First Case of Tamiflu Resistance Reported
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Health authorities confirmed Monday the country's first case of resistance to anti-viral drug Tamiflu, after a five-year-old boy who was prescribed the drug to treat the influenza A (H1N1) virus did not respond to the normal dosage. It is the 75th such case in the world.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), the patient, whose identity was not revealed, was hospitalized on Oct. 29 due to excessive coughing and a high fever.
He was confirmed to have contracted the H1N1 virus on the same day and was given Tamiflu twice a day for five days.
However, after showing no signs of recovery, his doctors doubled the dosage for another five days. He was declared fully recovered on Nov. 13 and sent home.
The KCDC said that the mutation of the H1N1 virus found in the 74 other cases was also detected in the patient's blood sample.
The strain is responsive to GlaxoSmithKline's anti-viral drug Relenza, but as the product isn't authorized for those below six years old, the health administration asked doctors to prescribe an extra dose of Tamiflu instead when resistance is reported in children.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also said such cases aren't necessarily a sign that the virus is becoming resistant to the antiviral drug. It will not change its policy of prescribing Tamiflu as a primary measure, Keiji Fukuda, chief flu advisor of WHO, was quoted as saying.
It was reported in Los Angeles that the drug-resistant strain of H1N1 can pass from person to person. But health experts also said that there is no evidence that the virus is any more virulent than any other types of flu.
Meanwhile, there have been allegations about serious side effects from the use of Tamiflu.
In Japan, some young people suffered from mental disorders after taking the drug.
However, no causal relationship has been established so far.
Authorities fear that these allegations may prevent flu patients from taking the drug timely.