Most of the countries reported Drug resistant H1N1 virus

It is said that an increasing number of countries, including some of them in Asia, are now reporting Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 virus, and this is a worrying development from the WHO point of view, in the latest report it says that 12 countries are showing drug resistant, including China and Singapore due to the mutation in the virus, as far as India is concerned Mutation is not yet reported.

It is seen that changes in the virus reported in samples are making these strains of swine flu resistant to oseltamivir or Tamiflu which is the antiviral which is used globally against the swineflu. Such cases have also been found in Japan, US, Hong Kong, Denmark and Canada, while India is monitoring these reports very closely, it has come to notice that it will begin exit screening of pilgrims bound for Saudi Arabia for Haj as the desert nation is refusing entry to anyone with even common cold. Saudi authorities are insisting on certificates stating that Haj pilgrims are completely free of any influenza infection.

Changes in the virus are also being tracked closely as scientists as they are concerned that new strains may make the vaccines which are currently being developed ineffective. As of now, WHO fears Tamiflu resistance may be more widespread than officially reported.

Going by available data, majority of the resistant cases were reported where oseltamivir was given as preventive medication to people exposed to the flu but who had not tested positive themselves. Some cases were a result of treatment of mild illness as well as “immuno-compromised ” patients or persons whose immune systems were working imperfectly.