# 1627
The numbers are still relatively low, generally less than 10% of samples tested, but more and more countries are finding Tamiflu resistant strains of seasonal flu this year.
Just two years ago, our old standby antiviral meds of Amantadine and Rimantadin were both rendered all but useless when more than 90% of flu samples tested proved resistant.
When first reported, several weeks ago, this appeared to be a European phenomenon, but since then it has been reported in Canada and the United States, and now in Australia and Hong Kong.
Surprisingly, in Japan where Tamiflu is used extensively, they report finding no resistant strains.
Roche Labs, manufacturer's of Tamiflu, say they need more data on the prevalence and spread of these resistant strains, and point out that this mutation doesn't seem to be showing up in avian strains.
This report from Reuters.
Australia, Hong Kong report Tamiflu-resistant flu
Thu 7 Feb 2008, 14:21 GMT
GENEVA, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Australia and Hong Kong have joined North America and parts of Europe in reporting seasonal influenza viruses with increased resistance to the antiviral drug Tamiflu, the World Health Organisation said on Thursday. The WHO said that it was still gathering global data about "an increased number of (seasonal) H1N1 viruses with resistance to oseltamivir" following the first reports which emerged in Europe in late January.
Oseltamivir is the generic name for Tamiflu, made by Switzerland's Roche Holding AG and Gilead Sciences Inc of the United States, which governments worldwide have been stockpiling as a first line of defence in case the bird flu virus sparks a human influenza pandemic.
The mutated H1N1 showing resistance is a sub-type of ordinary influenza A, different from the H5N1 virus which causes bird flu. But the resistance to Tamiflu has raised questions about its potential effectiveness in a deadly bird flu pandemic.
Spokeswoman Sari Setiogi said that for now the WHO was not changing its recommendation that Tamiflu be used to treat seasonal flu.
"We still expect to see more testing be done," she said.
In Hong Kong, 5 of 67 samples of the H1N1 virus tested, or 7 percent, showed resistance to Tamiflu, according to a WHO table. In Australia the rate was 2 out of 36 samples, or 6 percent.
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