Posted on12 September 2009 at 19:16 - the genetic composition of H1N1. Take the vaccine.
It could be the falling numbers in 'new' outbreaks of H1N1 is because of vaccination rates.
..."We are beginning to see some declines in influenza activity around the country (click here), but there is still a lot of influenza everywhere," Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said during an afternoon press conference.
Current flu activity is higher than typically seen during the peak of seasonal flu season in mid-winter, Schuchat said, adding that she expects a lot more swine flu infections in the weeks and months to come.
The H1N1 virus continues to hit young adults and children hard. During the past week, 21 more children died from the flu, bringing to 171 the total number of confirmed deaths among children....
It would appear a strain may have mutated. I don't recall hearing anything official from the WHO about this yet. But, please keep in mind this resistant strain is due to Tamiflu, a treatment for any flu, and NOT a vaccine resistance. There is every reason to continue to be vaccinated for H1N1. When the vaccine takes effect people won't need Tamiflu.
British hospital hit by swine flu strain that resists Tamiflu (click here)
By Jenny Hope
Last updated at 1:01 AM on 21st November 2009
...Five patients on a unit at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff were diagnosed with swine flu resistant to the drug.
The infection is believed to be the first confirmed case of a person-to-person transmission of a resistant strain in the world.
It appears to have been passed to three patients while they were in hospital. They caught it from two patients who developed flu symptoms after being admitted for other conditions....
4 Duke patients have drug-resistant H1N1 (click here)
Published Fri, Nov 20, 2009 03:07 PM
Modified Fri, Nov 20, 2009 03:17 PM
...Two earlier cases of Tamiflu-resistant infections were reported last summer in North Carolina, but Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease specialist at Duke, said there is no evidence the cases are linked.
Resistance to Tamiflu, which has also occurred in seasonal flu, removes one of the weapons against the illness, although only the vaccine can protect patients from getting the infection. Another anti-viral drug, Relenza, has shown no weakness against the H1N1 virus.
Wolfe said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the mutant strain in the four Duke patients after doctors became concerned the patients were not responding well to treatment....
