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First cases of spread of oseltamivir resistant swine flu between patients are reported in Wales

BMJ 2009; 339 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b4975 (Published 23 November 2009) Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b4975
  1. Anne Gulland
  1. 1London

    The first cases in the world of person to person transmission of a strain of swine flu that is resistant to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) seem to have emerged in a Welsh hospital.

    The UK Health Protection Agency said on 20 November that five people with serious underlying health conditions at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff were known to be infected with a strain of oseltamivir resistant swine flu. Three other cases were being investigated.

    Officials said it seemed likely that transmission of the resistant strain had taken place, the first documented cases of person to person transmission in the world. The World Health Organization has received reports of 57 incidences of oseltamivir resistance worldwide, but no previous instances of spread between patients have been reported.

    They said that the virus remains sensitive to zanamivir (Relenza) and …

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