Mutant flu virus linked to deaths
Monday November 23rd, 2009
An investigation is under way into a mutant swine flu virus responsible for the first Norwegian deaths from the disease.
Two people have died and one has become severely ill after succumbing to the mutant H1N1 virus, the World Health Organisation said.
Most disturbingly, WHO reported, the three patients are the only ones in Norway to have been identified infected by the mutant virus. Scientists have tested 70 other cases in the country and found no other cases of the mutation.
The organisation said the impact of the mutation remains unclear. It does not cause drug-resistance.
WHO said the same mutation has been found in Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Ukraine and the USA. In these countries the mutation has been involved in deaths and mild cases.
No links have been found between infected patients.
WHO said the mutations seemed to be "sporadic and spontaneous."
A spokesman added: "Although further investigation is under way, no evidence currently suggests that these mutations are leading to an unusual increase in the number of H1N1 infections or a greater number of severe or fatal cases."
Meanwhile an analysis of flu vaccination programmes in 16 countries has given "encouraging" results, WHO said.
It said a small number of people have died following vaccination - but investigations showed no direct link between deaths and the vaccine.
WHO said two deaths have been reported in China and 15 cases of severe side-effects after the administration of 11 million doses of vaccine. It said all the patients affected had underlying medical conditions that killed them.
It said the usual number of allergic reactions had occurred - and less than ten cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a paralysing and usually treatable immune system disease linked to flu vaccine. WHO said these cases were being investigated.
WHO vaccine expert Dr Marie-Paule Kieny said: "Reporting so far reconfirms that the pandemic flu vaccine is as safe as seasonal flu vaccines."
In Britain Dr Philip Bryan, a scientists with the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency, said: "Most people receiving the vaccine have serious and/or chronic underlying medical conditions which put them at greater risk of developing serious complications of swine flu. This is why it is important for these people to be vaccinated as a priority.
"Over the next few months, many of these patients will naturally suffer an exacerbation of their underlying illness, including death."
* In Cardiff, UK, doctors have reported the spread of a drug-resistant strain of virus in a hospital, it has been reported. Five patients have contracted the strain of the virus - three are thought to have acquired it in hospital.
Tags: Asia | Europe | Flu & Viruses | North America | Respiratory | Traveller Health | UK News | World Health
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