Momtezuma Tuatara
20-01-09, 05:55 AM
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20090117p2a00m0na008000c.html
Tamiflu ineffective against influenza strain spreading in Japan
A strain of influenza that spread across Japan this winter is proving resistant to the influenza medicine Tamiflu, a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has found.
About one in three influenza patients in Japan are infected with the strain, referred to as Soviet-A. Last winter 2.6 percent of cases were resistant to Tamiflu.
The reason for the sudden increase in Tamiflu-resistant cases is unclear, but it is possible that a strain from overseas was carried to Japan. The ministry has set up a research team to investigate the strain and compile guidelines for treatment.
In the survey, local public health institute data was compiled by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, which operates under the ministry. Data showed that 303 of the 671 influenza patients had the Hong Kong-A strain, and 243, or about 36 percent, had the Soviet-A strain. The other 125 had B-type influenza.
The Institute separately examined samples of the Soviet-A strain taken from 35 patients in 11 prefectures, and found that Tamiflu was ineffective for 34 of the patients, or 97 percent. Researchers did not find Tamiflu-resistance among patients with Hong Kong-A and B-type influenza.
The Tamiflu-resistant Soviet-A virus spread last winter, mainly in Europe. This winter it has spread worldwide, and has been detected in over 90 percent of areas in Britain and the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced emergency treatment guidelines last month, permitting the use of the inhalant drug Relenza.
Japan has enough Tamiflu to treat 28 million patients. The drug will also be used to treat a new type of influenza.
"Drug resistance is limited to the Soviet-A strain, and there is no need to review our response to the new type of influenza," a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry representative said. "Vaccines are thought to be effective against drug-resistant viruses. There is no need to be overly anxious. We want people to take care to carry out preventive measures such as washing their hands and gargling."
Tamiflu ineffective against influenza strain spreading in Japan
A strain of influenza that spread across Japan this winter is proving resistant to the influenza medicine Tamiflu, a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has found.
About one in three influenza patients in Japan are infected with the strain, referred to as Soviet-A. Last winter 2.6 percent of cases were resistant to Tamiflu.
The reason for the sudden increase in Tamiflu-resistant cases is unclear, but it is possible that a strain from overseas was carried to Japan. The ministry has set up a research team to investigate the strain and compile guidelines for treatment.
In the survey, local public health institute data was compiled by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, which operates under the ministry. Data showed that 303 of the 671 influenza patients had the Hong Kong-A strain, and 243, or about 36 percent, had the Soviet-A strain. The other 125 had B-type influenza.
The Institute separately examined samples of the Soviet-A strain taken from 35 patients in 11 prefectures, and found that Tamiflu was ineffective for 34 of the patients, or 97 percent. Researchers did not find Tamiflu-resistance among patients with Hong Kong-A and B-type influenza.
The Tamiflu-resistant Soviet-A virus spread last winter, mainly in Europe. This winter it has spread worldwide, and has been detected in over 90 percent of areas in Britain and the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced emergency treatment guidelines last month, permitting the use of the inhalant drug Relenza.
Japan has enough Tamiflu to treat 28 million patients. The drug will also be used to treat a new type of influenza.
"Drug resistance is limited to the Soviet-A strain, and there is no need to review our response to the new type of influenza," a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry representative said. "Vaccines are thought to be effective against drug-resistant viruses. There is no need to be overly anxious. We want people to take care to carry out preventive measures such as washing their hands and gargling."