WASHINGTON, Mar 23, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- The drug-resistance of the widely
circulating type A H1N1 flu virus highlights the need for new flu drugs and
faster tests, U.S. researchers said.
Type A H1N1 is resistant to Tamiflu, the anti-viral that until now been the
first choice for treating both seasonal flu and bird flu, USA Today reported
Monday. Tamiflu is still effective against most cases of bird flu, the report
said.
Doctors still have options for treating type A H1N1 influenza. Relenza, also
known as zanamavir, is in the same class as Tamiflu but the inhaled powder is
difficult for some people to use. Older anti-virals, amantadine and rimantadine,
will also work against that particular strain. The problem is that doctors don't
often know which flu strain is making their patient ill. The other two common
flu viruses this season, type A H3N2 and type B, are not resistant to Tamiflu
but H3N2 is resistant to amantadine and rimantadine and won't work against type
B flu.
Rapid flu diagnostic tests can't identify type A subtypes and a viral culture
test takes nearly a week to identify the flu type, USA Today said.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International