Following closely an announcement from Norway that they had discovered a mutated version of the H1N1 swine flu virus, China has made a similar announcement. While Norway's encompassed three cases of the H1N1 swine flu, China's announcement regards eight cases. Reportedly, both antiviral drugs and the H1N1 swine flu vaccines work on the newly dicovered mutations, both in China and Norway.
The report from China did not provide addition details. For example, it is unclear when the cases were detected, and if they were linked to any deaths. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the agency had no information on the cases mentioned in the Xinhua report Wednesday.
Viruses mutate rapidly, and agencies around the world have been alert to watch for such changes. So far, the mutations remain effectively addressed by the current H1N1 swine flu vaccine as well as antivirals such as Tamiflu, which is fortunate. Both the vaccine as well as Tamiflu remain in short supply in the U.S., however, though Tamiflu is less so.
Vivian Tan, the WHO's spokesperson in Beijing, told The Associated Press, "We are concerned, but realize that influenza viruses, including A/H1N1, are relatively unstable and change easily, especially as they infect more people. Some mutations can have minimal effects on how a virus functions, while other mutations can create important changes with significant public health impact."
Initial reports about the Norway mutation were worrisome. It is believed that the mutation of H1N1 swine flu affects lung tissue more adversely.
Meanwhile, while these cases appear to be still effectively treated with the current regimen, separately, a WHO spokesman said on Tuesday it is examining reports from the U.S. and U.K. that the H1N1 flu may have developed resistance to Tamiflu, although only in people with severely suppressed immune systems.
The British Health Protection Agency (HPA) confirmed five cases in Wales of people who had suppressed immune systems due to other serious conditions infected with H1N1 swine flu shown to be resistant to Roche's antiviral drug Tamiflu. The CDC also reported four cases of H1N1 resistant to Tamiflu at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina, as of last week. All the patients were already very ill with underlying severely compromised immune systems and other medical conditions.
The WHO noted that these incidents occurred in people who had severely compromised immune systems. It is known that people with suppressed immune systems, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, are more likely to become sick with infections such as H1N1 swine flu.
Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com
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