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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Drug resistant swine flu hits UK | Drug resistant swine flu hits UK |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Health officials have confirmed the person-to-person spread of a Tamiflu-resistant strain of swine flu. | |
| Five patients on a unit treating patients with severe underlying health conditions at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff are infected. | Five patients on a unit treating patients with severe underlying health conditions at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff are infected. |
| Three appear to have acquired the infection in hospital. | Three appear to have acquired the infection in hospital. |
| They are thought to be the first confirmed cases of person-to-person transmission of a Tamiflu-resistant strain in the world. | 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 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. | 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. |
| Serious concern | Serious concern |
| Any spread of a Tamiflu resistant strain of the illness is a serious public health concern. | Any spread of a Tamiflu resistant strain of the illness is a serious public health concern. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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." | "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. | 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. | "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. | "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. | "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." | "It's also important that good hygiene practices are followed to further prevent the spread of the virus." |