Tamiflu-resistant swine flu cluster reported in NC

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Tamiflu-resistant swine flu cluster reported in NC
Full Article: http://news.aol.com/article/tamiflu-resistant-swine-flu-cluster/745559?cid=14
ATLANTA -Four North Carolina patients at a single hospital tested positive for a type of swine flu that is resistant to Tamiflu, health officials said Friday. The cases reported at Duke University Medical Center over six weeks make up the biggest cluster seen so far in the U.S.

Tamiflu — made by Switzerland's Roche Group — is one of two flu medicines that help against swine flu, and health officials have been closely watching for signs that the virus is mutating, making the drugs ineffective.

About 52 resistant cases have been reported in the world since April, including 15 in the U.S. Almost all in the U.S. were isolated, said officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Depends on the mutation. If the surface proteins (antigens) mutate, then the vaccine won't work. Of course, by definition then, the flu is no long H1N1. Tamiflu works by preventing the virus from leaving infected cells which is a different mechanism than by how your body attacks the flu.
 
High Speed Chaser said:
Does having the vaccine protect you from mutations of a virus?
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It may not keep you from getting the virus but, hopefully, it will lessen the severity of the illness if you do, indeed, get it. That's the reason I keep my seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccines current. I also was one of the first in line for the H1N1 shot at our local FD. I'm in the high-risk category, with a long history of cardiac and pulmonary disease, and knew the mist would be wasting a dosage that someone else could benefit from.

Good luck with your First Responder course; the EMT's and ParaGods may look down their noses at you, but every bit of knowledge is a benefit. I never regretted the long hours of study I put in for it, and It's been a huge benefit for me. My doctor gets a little upset with me when I call for an appointment, and rattle off the symptomology.

Many years ago, I was working 156 miles from home; it was a little difficult if I got sick and needed a prescription. He knew my medical history, knew I knew just enough to be dangerous, and if I called, I must be half-past dead. I'd give the nurse the symptomology, and he'd phone in a prescription to a local pharmacy. Talk about mutual trust.
 
maybe if people didn't gulp down that tamiflu by the gallons every time somebody coughs...
 
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