Scientists in China identified the first case of H7N9 bird flu drug Tamiflu resistant, which is the current standard drug flu outbreak.
According to the BBC, so far there are 131 cases of influenza "bird" in humans, with the death toll reached 36 people. In the last two weeks did not reveal any new cases.
In a recent report published in the online edition of The Lancet, 3 virus samples taken from 14 patients infected with H7N9 were hospitalized Shanghai, China, positive resistant to Tamiflu. All three of these patients also suffer from a severe disease, two of which emnigngal, and the third is still using a ventilator machine.
"These conditions should be monitored carefully for fear of a pandemic will occur. The health officer must prepare a plan in case of a pandemic," said lead researcher Dr.Zhenghong Yuan from Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, China, and Dr.Malik Peiris of the University Hong Kong.
Of the 14 patients studied, the doctors continue to monitor the progress of the virus through blood samples, stool, urine, and throat mucus. All patients had complications of pneumonia, and seven of them had to use a ventilator machine in order to get enough oxygen.
Analysis of the virus showed three of the most severe cases of drug-resistant flu medicines, including Tamiflu. Patients who experience flu drug responsive to a faster recovery.
Patients who are resistant to Tamiflu is suspected of being infected are mutated. One patient experienced a mutation of the virus after treatment Tamiflu, so that H7N9 may mutate due to the influence of drugs.
Origins of H7N9 Virus
For the first time, a comprehensive genetic analysis of the H7N9 viruses do scientists in China. These findings guide the experts know the origin and history of the evolution of the virus.
In a study published in the journal The Lancet, scientists ensure that avian influenza A H7N9 virus began to spread since February 2013, passed from chickens in poultry wet market to humans.
The research team used data from, the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID). Existing data is used to gather as much information about the H7N9 virus genes pieces.
The team used the test phylogenetic and coalescent analysis, to extract about 100 pieces of H7N9 genes. The result is there are 3 locations that are likely to be of viral origin, ie America, Oceania, and the Eurasian descent.
In a research report mentioned, the pieces are genetically matched H7N9 genes with genes of the isolated virus in ducks, which are found in the province of Zhejiang.
"Phylogenetic tree (genealogy) H7 shows, variants of this virus circulating in wild ducks. Location circulation in East Asia which includes eastern China, South Korea, and Japan," said one of the authors.
Nevertheless, two of the isolated genes showed a difference. This indicates that the virus has evolved from its origin. The researchers believe the H7N9 that infect humans comes from ducks and chickens. Migration virus from west to east around the world is possible if there is an agent or vector.
"The possibility of the virus found in birds comes from the migration that occurred during the year. This virus infects chickens possibility that a gene similar to the birds," said the researchers.
The first case of H7N9 identified in (30/3). In (18/4) this virus successfully spread in various cities in the province of Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Beijing, and Henan.
Although the possibility of the origin and spread of these have been found, the researchers had to work extra fast. Because the researchers suspect the H7N9 virus has mutated than when first noticed some time ago.
Therefore the researchers suggest watchful eye on the area that can spread the virus for example, duck and chicken, in a country that has the potential to become the center of virus circulation.
Can Transmitted Between Humans
The threat of H7N9 virus had not yet expired. In fact, the results of in-depth analysis of the case in China showed this virus transmitted between humans.
The results of this study have been published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). This study analyzed the cases of transmission in a family in East China and the evidence showed that there was transmission of the virus from patients (age 60 years) to her daughter.
Although these results do not mean H7N9 will soon be a flu pandemic, it is supposed to increase alertness. The virus is not transmitted between humans effectively. This means that the risk to become a pandemic is still low.
This new bird flu virus does not infect humans before. However, according to WHO, so far has been 133 people in China and Taiwan infected and 43 of them died.
Most of the victims infected after visiting the market close contact with poultry or poultry within 7-10 days prior to illness.
Research led by Chang-jun Bao of Jiangsu Province Center for Disease Control and Prevention began in March 2013. The two patients (father and son) comes from eastern China.
The first patient (father) often come to the poultry market and became ill five to six days after the last exposure. Later, he was taken to hospital on (11/03/2013), then transferred to the ICU at (15/3). The patient died on the (4/5) due to organ failure.
The second patient was a healthy daughter aged 32 years and never made contact with poultry. However, both patients are always cared for his father in the hospital before being transferred to the ICU.
The second patient experienced symptoms of bird flu in six days after the last contact with his father. He was taken to the hospital at (24/3) and transferred to the ICU at (28/3). The second patient died due to the failure of a number of organs in (24/4).
Virus strains isolated from each patient are genetically very similar, so most likely the virus has been transmitted directly from father to son.
source: BBC, WHO, the British Medical Journal (BMJ), The Lancet Journal, The Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID)
Thank you for reading this article.
Please share this information with others
