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'Drug resistant' swine flu probed Drug resistant swine flu hits UK
(40 minutes later)
Health officials are investigating the possible person-to-person spread of a Tamiflu-resistant strain of swine flu. Health officials have confirmed the person-to-person spread of a Tamiflu-resistant stain of swine flu.
The strain has infected a small number of patients at the University Hospital Wales, in Cardiff, all of whom had serious underlying health conditions. Five patients on a unit treating patients with severe underlying health conditions at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff are infected.
One patient apparently developed resistance to the antiviral drug, and the strain was then passed on to others at the hospital. Three appear to have acquired the infection in hospital.
If confirmed, this would be the first case of its kind in Europe. They are thought to be the first confirmed cases of person-to-person transmission of a Tamiflu-resistant strain in the world.
There have been several dozen reports around the world of people developing resistance to Tamiflu while taking the drug.There have been several dozen reports around the world of people developing resistance to Tamiflu while taking the drug.
But there has only been one case of person-to-person transmission of a Tamiflu-resistant strain, between two people at a US summer camp. But there has only been one reported case of person-to-person transmission of a resistant strain - between two people at a US summer camp - and this has never been confirmed.
All the University Hospital Wales patients are said to be recovering in controlled environments - so there is no risk to anyone else.All the University Hospital Wales patients are said to be recovering in controlled environments - so there is no risk to anyone else.
And health officials say tests are being carried out to confirm exactly what happened.And health officials say tests are being carried out to confirm exactly what happened.
The UK has bought enough doses of Tamiflu, which can shorten the duration of swine flu and reduce the risk of complications, for half the population.The UK has bought enough doses of Tamiflu, which can shorten the duration of swine flu and reduce the risk of complications, for half the population.
And any spread of a Tamiflu resistant strain of the illness would be a serious public health concern. Serious concern
Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, said: "As immunocompromised patients cannot easily shake the virus off there is ample time for a Tamiflu resistant mutant to arise. Any spread of a Tamiflu resistant strain of the illness is a serious public health concern.
"Generally such mutants are less fit than the parental virus and further transmissions rare unless to another similar immunocompromised individual. Dr Roland Salmon, director of the National Public Health Service for Wale's Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, said: "The emergence of influenza A viruses that are resistant to Tamiflu is not unexpected in patients with serious underlying conditions and suppressed immune systems, who still test positive for the virus despite treatment.
"It is certainly something to watch but at the moment it would seem to be down to a very special set of circumstances rather than an emerging threat." "In this case, the resistant strain of swine flu does not appear to be any more severe than the swine flu virus that has been circulating since April."
Dr Tony Jewell, Chief Medical Officer for Wales, said: "We know that people with suppressed immune systems are more susceptible to the swine flu virus, which is why they are a priority group under the first phase of the vaccination programme in Wales which is progressing at pace.
"We have stringent processes in place for monitoring for antiviral resistance in the UK so that we can spot resistance early and the causes can be investigated and the cases managed.
"Identifying these cases shows that our systems are working so patients should be reassured.
"Treatment with Tamiflu is still appropriate for swine flu and people should continue to take Tamiflu when they are prescribed it.
"It's also important that good hygiene practices are followed to further prevent the spread of the virus."