Amantadine resistance - new data

“As regards seasonal influenza, Dr Tsang remarked that
the peak season is about to arrive in Hong Kong.

“According to historical trend, the peak season for
influenza is expected to come in February or March.
People at high risk and have not received influenza
vaccination should get vaccinated as soon as
possible.”

He said that more than 240 000 people have already
been covered by the government’s influenza vaccination
programme, compared with 200 000 people in 2004. This
represents an increase of about 20% over 2004.

http://www.info.gov.hk/dh/new/2006/Jan/060124e.htm

--------

01/27/2006

The Asahi Shimbun

The flu bug that is causing misery this winter
increasingly seems to be resistant to standard
treatment authorized by doctors, researchers say.
Three drugs are normally used to treat flu, but one,
Amantadine, which is prescribed as Symmetrel, has had
little or no effect, they said.

A team of researchers led by Norio Sugaya, director of
tche pediatrics department of Keiyu Hospital in
Yokohama, found 21 cases in which virus samples were
resistant to “As regards seasonal influenza, Dr Tsang remarked that
the peak season is about to arrive in Hong Kong.

“According to historical trend, the peak season for
influenza is expected to come in February or March.
People at high risk and have not received influenza
vaccination should get vaccinated as soon as
possible.”

He said that more than 240 000 people have already
been covered by the government’s influenza vaccination
programme, compared with 200 000 people in 2004. This
represents an increase of about 20% over 2004.

http://www.info.gov.hk/dh/new/2006/Jan/060124e.htm

--------

01/27/2006

The Asahi Shimbun

The flu bug that is causing misery this winter
increasingly seems to be resistant to standard
treatment authorized by doctors, researchers say.
Three drugs are normally used to treat flu, but one,
Amantadine, which is prescribed as Symmetrel, has had
little or no effect, they said.

A team of researchers led by Norio Sugaya, director of
tche pediatrics department of Keiyu Hospital in
Yokohama, found 21 cases in which virus samples were
resistant to Amantadine.

In total, the team examined 24 people who displayed
type A influenza and sought treatment at medical
institutions in Yokohama from December to January. Of
the 24, 18 were infected with type A Hong Kong flu and
six with type A Soviet flu.

Virus samples from 16 of the Hong Kong flu patients
were found to be resistant to Amantadine. Those taken
from five Soviet flu patients had the same result.

Researchers said, however, that none of the total of
21 patients had been prescribed Amantadine by doctors.

On Jan. 14, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention warned that Amantadine and the drug
Rimantadine should not be used for flu treatment this
winter season.(IHT/Asahi: January 27,2006)


http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200601270162.ht ml
Delete.

In total, the team examined 24 people who displayed
type A influenza and sought treatment at medical
institutions in Yokohama from December to January. Of
the 24, 18 were infected with type A Hong Kong flu and
six with type A Soviet flu.

Virus samples from 16 of the Hong Kong flu patients
were found to be resistant to Amantadine. Those taken
from five Soviet flu patients had the same result.

Researchers said, however, that none of the total of
21 patients had been prescribed Amantadine by doctors.

On Jan. 14, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention warned that Amantadine and the drug
Rimantadine should not be used for flu treatment this
winter season.(IHT/Asahi: January 27,2006)


http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200601270162.ht ml
Delete