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medpundit |
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Thursday, December 22, 2005DOCTORS in Vietnam have reported two more deaths that show the H5N1 bird flu virus can mutate into a form that resists the frontline drug Tamiflu. The cases bring to three the number of Tamiflu-resistant cases among 138 people known to have been infected with the H5N1 virus, according to the World Health Organisation. Of these, 71 died. ....Tests showed the virus was resistant to Tamiflu in two of the patients. In one the drug was used very early on, as recommended. Details of the cases are here (available for free!) This is bad news, but not horrible. Tamiflu isn't a cure for flu, and there's no reason think it would cure Avian flu, either. It just gives the body a bit of an advantage that it would not otherwise have in fighting the virus. Even with the normal flu, it only shortens the course of symptoms by one or two days, and it doesn't necessarily prevent complications. With all the talk about stockpiling Tamiflu, we sometimes give the impression that it's as effective as antibiotics. It isn't. posted by Sydney on 12/22/2005 09:36:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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