H1N1 Pandemic Flu and Ineffectiveness of Tamiflu

If the behaviour of the seasonal form of the H1N1 influenza virus is any indication, scientists say that chances are good that most strains of the pandemic H1N1 flu virus are resistant to Tamiflu, the main drug stockpiled for use against it.

Many researchers, including the Ohio State University, have traced the evolutionary history of the seasonal H1N1 influenza virus, which first infected humans during the 1918 pandemic. It is one of three seasonal influenza A viruses that commonly infect humans. The others are H1N2 and H3N2.

Within H1N1, two strains of virus circulate in humans: a seasonal form and the pandemic form of influenza known as swine flu, which has recently sickened millions and killed hundreds of people since it first emerged in North America last spring.

Over time and in line with normal virus behaviour, the H1N1 strain of seasonal influenza develops mutations that have caused it to become resistant to oseltamivir-based agents. Tamiflu is one of these oseltamivir phosphate.

It is a safe bet that whatever pressure is in the environment, excessive use of Tamiflu or something similar, driving seasonal influenza to become resistant to treatment, is also going to apply to pandemic influenza. It is happening already.

Tamiflu was never the long term solution nor was it as effective as it was claimed to be. The world awaits a more effective and better product to replace it.