New H1N1 virus strain appears in Singapore: WHO

[tetano]

SINGAPORE: WHO researchers say the H1N1 flu virus that swept the globe in 2009 has mutated, with the new strain appearing in Singapore and Australia.

The new virus has a genetic twist, making it resistant to drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza, the two mainstay drugs used to tackle the virus.

The World Health Organisation's influenza research group says more than 10 percent of H1N1 flu infection samples from Singapore, collected during the early months this year, showed mildly reduced sensitivity to the two drugs.

The new variation of the virus has also mixed with the old form in at least one patient.

Researchers say it proved extremely resistant to Tamiflu, and the patient, who already had a weakened immune system, died.

But lab tests showed the experimental flu drug peramivir remains an effective treatment against the virus.

The new variant has also been detected in other parts of Asia-Pacific, according to a report by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Melbourne.

It is feared that if this new form of flu spreads, other mutations may occur and trigger even greater drug resistance and more serious illness.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1134504/1/.html

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: New H1N1 virus strain appears in Singapore: WHO

The Eurosurveillance paper is available here:

Increased detection in Australia and Singapore of a novel influenza A(H1N1)2009 variant with reduced oseltamivir and zanamivir sensitivity due to a S247N neuraminidase mutation

Eurosurveillance, full free text: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19884

FluTrackers.com, abstract: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showpost.php?p=411615&postcount=1

 

[JJackson]

Re: New H1N1 virus strain appears in Singapore: WHO

The part of this I would like draw your attention to may appear to be secondary but is, in my opinion, very important.

The new variation of the virus has also mixed with the old form in at least one patient.

Researchers say it proved extremely resistant to Tamiflu, and the patient, who already had a weakened immune system, died.

Immunocomprimised patients are a very efficent generation system for all forms of drug resistance. Wards for such patients deserve fairly draconian infection control procedures. The patients need to be protected from the general population but, as important, are measure to stop the inevitable mutations from finding their way back into the gene pool. Sadly in this case the patient died, and presumably did so without hitting on a form that could compete with the wild types. With so many throws of the dice the odd viable form will emerge; the challange is not to let it out of the lab.