The Pandemic Continues

Some interesting developments on the H1N1 influenza front.

The total number of new cases continues to decline. However, there have been some ominous developments.

First, a report from Viet Nam describes 7 people who were on a train and who developed H1N1 influenza infection. What is interesting here is that 6 were students on 1 train and there was another individual in another car on the same train. These 7 people had Tamiflu resistant H1N1 viruses. All 7 got sick with the flu and all recovered. To date, there have been about 100 Tamiflu resistant strains identified.

Second, In China, 8 people have been infected with H1N1 influenza virus that has mutated from the wild type. All of these strains have been susceptible to Tamiflu and the vaccine is expected to be effective against these strains. There are not many details yet about this report and it appears that the 8 cases were scattered throughout China and not part of an outbreak.

The important point with these reports is that the virus is a dynamic, living organism and that even though new cases of infection  are decreasing, the virus is doing what it does best, changing  its features based on mutations as it reproduces. We have to continue to respect what this virus is capable of and continue to use good respiratory hygiene and vaccinate those people who are at highest risk of serious infection. Fortunately, we have a good supply of H1N1 vaccine available, with more coming.

I don’t think we have heard the last of  2009 H1N1 influenza.