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'Superflu' arrives in Scotland



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Published Date: 01 December 2008
By LOUISE HOSIE
TWO cases of a so-called superflu which is resistant to a common type of anti-viral treatment have been identified in Scotland, it was reported last night.
The patients have been diagnosed with the strain of the illness which does not respond to the drug Tamiflu, it was claimed.

Dr Jim McMenamin, consultant epidemiologist for Health Protection Scotland, said that symptoms caused by the resistant virus were no more severe than those triggered by normal influenza, but there were fewer treatment options. The other two common flu drugs have worked against the virus.

"We have not seen the appearance of multiple-drug resistance, we have just seen this one medicine with this particular virus," Dr McMenamin said.

"We are continuing to make sure samples are tested to see if there are any other resistance patterns."

He added it was essential for people who were vulnerable to the illness to receive a flu jab from their GP. The resistant strain was first identified in more than 20 European countries during the last flu season.





The full article contains 178 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 01 December 2008 12:33 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 01/12/2008 01:25:19


"Superflu", yes a worry, but nothing like the mutation of the dreaded,...

..'Birdflu' that will bring death to 100s of thousands, that we ignore!


2

Finlang,

France 01/12/2008 03:56:59
Charlie ... when will you stop being first on these threads to disseminate bad news?
3

Kingston,

Singapore 01/12/2008 04:06:50
I would have thought the spead of ignorance and alarmist reporting is a greater threat to the UK.

4

yockel,

01/12/2008 06:55:14
Does not respond to Tamiflu, well that would be almost all strains of the virus especially if you do not start taking the Tamiflu long before you get to a doctor and for most people even if you do.

Any word on the Australian flu outbreak in the British news?
5

Unimpressed one,

01/12/2008 08:09:10
We need a conference on this global disaster waiting to happen and we need wads of public money spent on an awareness campaign.
6

ZipptJeffrey,

Castle 01/12/2008 08:17:06
In the case of public interest, where were these flu cases found? In which part of Scotland is drug resistant flu developing? What is NHS Scotland hiding? We need to know.
7

Mcsnagpile,

01/12/2008 09:39:10
Sound like another fowl virus.
8

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 01/12/2008 10:33:42

Mcsnagpile ~7,

Very witty indeed :)

§¥§
9

ddmc,

01/12/2008 12:08:59
#4 nope but i havent seen any stories on the alleged suicides in japanese teenagers which are linked to tamiflu either
10

Guga II,

Rockall 01/12/2008 12:39:22
Another opportunity for the doom and gloom merchants to spread their tales of woe. We're all doomed.
11

Slioch,

Scottish Highlands 01/12/2008 16:15:04
#10 Guga

Its seems more like an opportunity for the junk comment merchants to spread their repetitive tales of ignorance. We're all bored.
12

TimW1234,

Ottawa, Canada 01/12/2008 18:57:03
2 Finlang

It is a fact of life as we know it on these threads.

It may be a dubious distinction but a distinction nonetheless.

I suppose we have to live with it. It is harmless and non-destructive and many times Charles can be witty - if not WACKY!

Charles

Hope you and yours are having a great day.
13

Dr Finlay,

Tannochbrae 01/12/2008 19:24:03
Is anyone surprised by this? Are there no journalists left with even a smattering of scientific savvy?

Since influenza is one of the fastest evolving viruses known with the ability to regularly undergo both shift and drift changes in its protein shell, and change its genetic elements quickly too, it is to be expected that a resistant strain would appear within a very short time. It can do this many times quicker than bacteria can defeat antibiotics.

Flu will rapidly defeat any and all of our attempts to control it by drug or vaccine methods. The next major change is now well overdue and widely expected. We should withold any new medication specifically for that event and not waste it on minor epidemics.

 

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