Some bird flu patients resistant to only available H7N9 drug

Laboratory tests have revealed resistance in some H7N9 bird flu patients to the only available treatment, said virologists who unveiled “concerning” study results on Tuesday.

Three out of 14 patients monitored at a clinic in Shanghai had a genetically-mutated version of the virus that makes it drug resistant, a team of researchers in China wrote in the journal The Lancet.

Of the three, one developed drug resistance only after being medicated, “probably as a result of treatment with Tamiflu” – a widely-used antiviral drug, said a statement.

This gave rise to fears that treatment might actually cause resistance to the only available drugs.

“The apparent ease with wich antiviral resistance emerges in A/H7N9 viruses is concerning,” wrote the study authors – insisting that early treatment remained the best course of action.