US, UK H1N1 Cases Show Drug Resistance
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on the 20th that four patients at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina recently tested positive for Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 influenza virus. Among them, three have died, and one is recovering. The Health Protection Agency in the UK also issued a bulletin on the 20th stating that nine people in a ward of a hospital in Wales were confirmed to be infected with H1N1. Among these, five showed resistance to oseltamivir, the main component of Tamiflu.
After reaching its peak in the United States and some Western European countries, the H1N1 pandemic is advancing towards Asia. According to reports from Washington by Reuters, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and others pointed out that after reaching its peak in the United States and some Western European countries, the H1N1 pandemic is currently moving eastward towards other European countries and Asia, following a diffusion pattern similar to seasonal flu but much earlier.
Experts warn the public that any flu outbreak could see several peaks within a single season, and the global H1N1 pandemic may last for several more months. Moreover, Norwegian experts found a mutated H1N1 virus, but it was limited to three fatal cases and did not spread into the community. Scattered cases of H1N1 viruses resistant to Tamiflu continue to emerge, this time in the UK and the US.
According to statistics, since the H1N1 virus began spreading in Mexico in April this year, there have been at least 6,770 deaths globally. However, experts say that due to most patients not seeking medical attention, this number is just the tip of the iceberg.
The WHO issued a statement saying: "In some areas of the northern hemisphere, the epidemic has begun to reach its peak."
Reports indicate that the H1N1 virus has spread rapidly in Canada, with most patients being children. However, US officials claim that the speed of transmission has started to slow down.
The head of the CDC, Dr. Struchart, said: "We have found that the flu epidemic in Canada has begun to slow down, but the flu continues to spread."
He pointed out: "The current situation is still more severe than in previous years during the same period."
Quest Diagnostics conducted 142,000 flu tests in the US and discovered a trend where the flu epidemic began to slow down starting from November 27th last month.
The WHO said that there is a significant increase in flu cases in Norway as well as some Far Eastern countries, including Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, and Serbia.
Additionally, there has been a noticeable increase in flu cases in parts of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, especially in the capital Kabul. Israel has also seen a significant rise in flu cases.
Dr. Morts of the WHO's influenza team said: "Basically, (the H1N1 pandemic) is moving eastward. Generally speaking, seasonal flu always moves from west to east. This diffusion pattern is almost identical, except that it came much earlier this year."
Experts say that the flu epidemic could see several peaks within a single season, and the global H1N1 pandemic may last for several more weeks or even months.
According to Xinhua News Agency in Beijing on November 21st, reporters stationed abroad reported that the health departments of the US and the UK separately announced on the 20th cases of H1N1 influenza resistant to the antiviral drug Tamiflu. However, there is currently no evidence indicating that this drug-resistant variant has strong human-to-human transmission capabilities. On the same day, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health also reported three cases of H1N1 virus mutations, but these variants have not shown resistance to H1N1 vaccines or antiviral drugs.
Yesterday, our reporter learned from Qin City's health department that Ms. Ma, a pregnant woman mentioned in our report on November 16th who contracted "H1N1," unfortunately passed away early yesterday morning after failing to recover from severe pneumonia, becoming the first death case of H1N1 in Qin City.
Ms. Ma (Han nationality, 27 years old, from Haigang District, Qin City), at 38 weeks of pregnancy, unfortunately contracted the H1N1 virus. On November 5th, she developed flu-like symptoms and was tested positive for H1N1 virus by Qin City's disease control center on November 11th. Her condition worsened on November 12th, leading to her admission to Qin City's First Hospital for treatment. Due to rapid fetal heartbeat and weak fetal heart rate, an emergency cesarean section was performed, resulting in safe delivery of both mother and child. Four hours after the newborn's birth, respiratory secretions were collected and tested negative for H1N1 virus. After a period of observation, the male infant was discharged healthy.
On November 13th, Ms. Ma's condition worsened, and she was transferred to Qin City's Third Hospital for treatment. She was diagnosed with critical H1N1 influenza combined with severe pneumonia, type I respiratory failure, and multiple organ damage. Despite three consultations by Qin City's expert panel and symptomatic treatment, her condition continued to deteriorate. On November 17th, after consultation by the provincial expert panel, the diagnosis by Qin City and the hospital expert panel was approved, and mechanical ventilation assistance was provided along with enhanced nutritional support and increased hormone usage. At 2:38 AM on November 20th, her condition worsened, and she eventually passed away at 5:00 AM despite all efforts to save her.
According to Vice President Li Xiaozhe of Qin City's Third Hospital, since the patient was in the perinatal period, all her organs underwent changes. Infection with H1N1 combined with severe complications is far more dangerous than in ordinary H1N1 patients with severe complications. Despite all efforts by provincial and city experts to create a miracle, they were unable to save the patient's life. (Reported by journalist Li Shuli, source: Yanzhao Evening News)
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Both H1N1 Fatal Cases in Dongguan Were Due to Brain Infections
Dongguan, Guangdong Province - On November 21st, according to local health authorities, the two recent fatalities caused by H1N1 in Dongguan, one a female middle school student and the other a male elementary school student, shared a common feature: both succumbed to brain infections shortly after being admitted to the hospital.
According to responsible persons from the Dongguan Health Bureau, the latter male student began showing fever and coughing symptoms on November 13th. He was treated at Dalang Hospital on November 16th at 18:45 for "repeated fever for three days and coughing for two days." After admission, the hospital provided treatment. However, at 00:30 on November 17th, medical staff discovered that the boy had suddenly stopped breathing, his lips and limbs turned cyanotic, his pupils dilated, and his heart stopped beating. Immediately, the municipal clinical medical rescue expert group was organized for a consultation. Nevertheless, the boy's condition worsened on November 18th at 9:00 AM, and he passed away at 10:30 AM despite all attempts to save him.
On November 18th, the Dongguan Disease Control Center conducted nucleic acid testing on throat swab samples from the boy, which resulted in a positive test for H1N1 influenza virus.
The cause of death for the boy was similar to that of the female student from Wanjian No.2 Middle School, both resulting from brain infections. Most previously reported domestic and international fatal cases were due to heart and lung infections.
"We found that the boy had already shown symptoms of fever and cold before, but his parents were worried about affecting his studies and allowed him to continue attending classes," said experts from the Dongguan Disease Control Center. They recommended that once children show signs of cold and fever, they should rest at home or seek hospital treatment and not continue attending classes.
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The viruses in these two Dongguan patients appear to have mutated, showing stronger virulence and capable of invading the brain.