Alberta Health Services has confirmed Alberta’s first case of drug-resistant swine flu.
Laboratory testing confirmed that a sample taken from an adult Alberta woman in August was oseltamivir-resistant. Senior medical officer Dr. Gerry Predy said the findings are significant because oseltamivir, or Tamiflu, is the most common antiviral used to treat influenza.
“It’s always a concern that there is resistance but it isn’t unexpected,” Predy said at yesterday’s press conference.
“This isn’t something people should be alarmed about,” he added.
Predy said drug-resistant strains are still treatable with other antivirals, but it will be harder to get the illness under control.
“This won’t change our approach in any way,” said Predy, even though antiviral medications are a key part of the strategy for fighting H1N1.
Predy said this is an isolated case.
