Oseltamivir, or Tamiflu, is an antiviral medication used to treat the swine flu virus. A recent mutation of the H1N1 influenza virus results in resistance to this medication. This H275Y mutation does not affect the effectiveness of Relenza, another antiviral medication. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of cases of swine flu with the H275 mutation that makes it Tamiflu resistant have increased sharply over the past two weeks.
Tamiflu resistant swine flu
The version of the swine flu that emerged initially causes typical flu symptoms, some of which can be severe, particularly in infants and toddlers. Antiviral medications are most effective when given early in the infection, but the H1N1 mutation H275Y causes the antiviral medication known as Tamiflu, or oseltamivir, to be ineffective. Currently, the alternative antiviral medicine, Relenza, also known as zanamivir.
Increases in mutated swine flu
The number of cases of the swine flu virus that have resisted treatment with Tamiflu have increased sharply in recent weeks, according to a December 2 report from the WHO. This report states that the number of Tamiflu-resistant cases have nearly doubled, from 57 to 96 reported cases, in just two weeks. Approximately one-third of these cases have occurred in immunocompromised individuals.
Oseltamivir-resistant H1N1 H275Y mutations increasing quickly, not confined to immunocompromised
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