Tamiflu-resistant swine flu patient found

03 July 2009 | 07:35:10 AM | Source: AFP/SBS

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Patients who are resistant to Tamiflu can be treated with an alternative drug, Relenza

A genetic mutation of swine flu that is resistant to the antiviral Tamiflu has been discovered in Japan, the first such case in the country.

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It is the second reported case of Tamiflu resistance linked to swine flu in less than a week.

The latest case was found in a patient who had been given the drug since first being diagnosed with A(H1N1) around two weeks ago, the Japanese health ministry said.

The patient - a woman in Osaka prefecture - was recovering after having been given Ralenza, an alternative anti-flu medication, the Kyodo news agency reported.

A spokeswoman for Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Roche, which makes Tamiflu, said the company had been informed of the case and called it "normal".

"It is absolutely normal," she said, adding that "0.4 per cent of adults develop resistance" to Tamiflu.

She said the case does not indicate Tamiflu has become less effective against swine flu.

Danish authorities announced earlier this week they had discovered resistance to Tamiflu in a female patient. Ralenza was also used successfully to treat her.

According to the latest World Health Organisation figures, Japan has 1,266 reported cases of swine flu, but has so far recorded no fatalities.

 

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