Drug-resistant H1N1 virus

Shelby Anderson
November 27, 2009
3:21 pm

There have been about seventy-five cases of the sine flu which has mutated into a form that is resistant to the drug Tamiflu, also known as oseltamivir. This strain usually only effects patients with compromised immune systems and only in mild forms. There hasn’t been any known large outbreaks in the AIDS communities and people with weak immune systems. These are inconsistent and researchers want everyone to know that these few cases of Tamiflu resistant swine flu do not foreshadow any major changes in the H1N1 virus’ genetic makeup. To date, the swine flu has caused 6,770 deaths across the world and has infected very many more. Most people only acquire mild symptoms and recover without any outside help. It is expected that most of the new cases of the virus will be found in the northern hemisphere of the earth, but they can’t tell whether the season has hit it’s peak or not. Vaccines are still recommended this late in the season and people who get them usually only experience slight side effects.


It’s interesting to think that a virus can mutate to a point where drugs that are supposed to help cure them don’t work anymore. It’s also a little scary because what if it gets to the point where we can’t fight it off with the help of drugs? What would we do then? The good thing is that these cases are very few in number and are isolated. Hopefully, things will stay that way and it doesn’t start spreading.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34164475/ns/health-cold_and_flu/