CDC Says This Year's Flu Strain Resistant to Tamiflu

12-21-2008, 02:37 AM

CDC Says This Year's Flu Strain Resistant to Tamiflu

December 20, 2008
Peter Loftus
Wall Street Journal

U.S. health authorities alerted doctors Friday that a prevalent strain of the flu is resistant to Roche Holding AG's Tamiflu antiviral drug, and that doctors should add another drug or use an alternative to treat such cases.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention said preliminary data from a limited number of states showed that the prevalence of a type known as influenza A H1N1, some of which are resistant to Tamiflu, is high.

As a result, the CDC is now recommending that patients suspected of having this strain receive GlaxoSmithKline PLC's Relenza antiviral drug, or that patients take a combination of Tamiflu and a generic drug called rimantadine. The use of Tamiflu alone is no longer recommended in such cases. The CDC alert is being sent to doctors and public-health clinics around the country.

"With the predominance of influenza A H1N1 viruses in the community, we felt compelled to at least alert physicians to the fact that these resistant viruses may be out there, and they may encounter them in practice," said Joseph Bresee, chief of the epidemiology and prevention branch in CDC's influenza division in Atlanta.

However, Tamiflu may still be used to treat two other types of seasonal flu, influenza B and influenza A H3N2. Antivirals are typically used within the first 48 hours of signs of flu infection to reduce the severity and duration of illness, or to prevent flu in people exposed to others with the flu.

The CDC also noted that flu infections have been low so far in the 2008-09 season. The peak of activity typically hits between January and March.

The CDC continues to recommend that people get vaccinated against seasonal flu, and said this year's lot of vaccines should be effective in preventing or reducing the severity of illness with currently circulating viruses.

Write to Peter Loftus at peter.loftus@dowjones.com

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1229...googlenews_wsj

12-21-2008, 02:37 AM	#1
Baggywrinkle Guest Posts: n/a	CDC Says This Year's Flu Strain Resistant to Tamiflu CDC Says This Year's Flu Strain Resistant to Tamiflu December 20, 2008 Peter Loftus Wall Street Journal U.S. health authorities alerted doctors Friday that a prevalent strain of the flu is resistant to Roche Holding AG's Tamiflu antiviral drug, and that doctors should add another drug or use an alternative to treat such cases. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention said preliminary data from a limited number of states showed that the prevalence of a type known as influenza A H1N1, some of which are resistant to Tamiflu, is high. As a result, the CDC is now recommending that patients suspected of having this strain receive GlaxoSmithKline PLC's Relenza antiviral drug, or that patients take a combination of Tamiflu and a generic drug called rimantadine. The use of Tamiflu alone is no longer recommended in such cases. The CDC alert is being sent to doctors and public-health clinics around the country. "With the predominance of influenza A H1N1 viruses in the community, we felt compelled to at least alert physicians to the fact that these resistant viruses may be out there, and they may encounter them in practice," said Joseph Bresee, chief of the epidemiology and prevention branch in CDC's influenza division in Atlanta. However, Tamiflu may still be used to treat two other types of seasonal flu, influenza B and influenza A H3N2. Antivirals are typically used within the first 48 hours of signs of flu infection to reduce the severity and duration of illness, or to prevent flu in people exposed to others with the flu. The CDC also noted that flu infections have been low so far in the 2008-09 season. The peak of activity typically hits between January and March. The CDC continues to recommend that people get vaccinated against seasonal flu, and said this year's lot of vaccines should be effective in preventing or reducing the severity of illness with currently circulating viruses. Write to Peter Loftus at peter.loftus@dowjones.com http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1229...googlenews_wsj