Concerns about drug resistance of H7N9 virus

Doctors have found signs of drug resistance in patients being treated because the new H7N9 bird flu virus outbreak in China.

According to an article published in the Lancet medical journal, the H7N9 virus became resistant to Tamiflu in three of the 14 patients being treated with antiviral drugs at Shanghai Hospital.

The conclusion was drawn when doctors analyzed new bird flu viruses in 14 patients. All of these people had pneumonia and half of them had to use an oxygen machine to maintain life.

Chinese health workers are taking samples of H7N9 virus at a poultry market in Hunan province.(Photo: Getty Images)

Treatment with antiviral drugs has reduced the number of H7N9 viruses in most patients and helped improve symptoms. However, this process failed in 3 patients. Virus test results in these patients showed that H7N9 had the necessary mutations to disable the drug.

Doctors believe that, in at least one patient, the development of resistance is a direct consequence of Tamiflu drug treatment.

This phenomenon raises concerns because such antiviral drugs are currently the only way to treat new bird flu. The researchers said that this situation requires close monitoring and consideration of pandemic plans that may explode in the future.

So far there have been 131 cases of authenticated people infected with H7N9. 36 cases have died from this bird flu virus since the first case was discovered earlier this year.

However, the most recent infection was recorded on May 8. Efforts to close poultry markets in China are thought to significantly reduce the spread of H7N9 virus.