Tamiflu-resistant swine flu develops in South Wales hospital

The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) says a Tamiflu-resistant strain of swine flu has been spread from person-to-person among hospital patients at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, South Wales.

Five patients on a unit treating people with severe underlying health conditions at the hospital have been diagnosed with swine flu resistant to Oseltamivir (Tamiflu). Three appear to have acquired the infection in hospital.

In September Tamiflu manufacturer Roche reported 23 cases around the world of people developing resistance to the drug while taking it, but the diagnoses in Wales are thought to be the first cases of person-to-person transmission of a Tamiflu-resistant strain of swine flu.

The NPHS says two of the patients have recovered and have been discharged from hospital. One patient remains in critical care and two others continue to be treated on the ward.

All of the patients have been treated with an alternative antiviral.

Dr Roland Salmon, director of the NPHS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, said: "The emergence of influenza A viruses that are resistant to Tamiflu is not unexpected in patients with serious underlying conditions and suppressed immune systems, who still test positive for the virus despite treatment.

"In this case, the resistant strain of swine flu does not appear to be any more severe than the swine flu virus that has been circulating since April."

Salmon said vaccination continues to be the most effective preventative measure against swine flu. It is also important that good hygiene practices are followed to prevent further spread of the virus.