Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 flu spreads in UK
Published:Friday | November 20, 2009 | 5:48 PM
Health officials in the United Kingdom say a Tamiflu-resistant strain of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus has spread among hospital patients.
Five patients on a unit treating people with severe underlying health conditions at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff were reportedly infected.
Three appear to have acquired the infection in hospital.
They are said 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.
However 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.
The UK has bought enough doses of Tamiflu, which can shorten the duration of the H1N1 virus and reduce the risk of complications, for half the population.