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New H1N1 strain can be treated with mainstay drugs, say MOH, A*Star
By Monica Kotwani | Posted: 11 June 2011 1719 hrs
A doctor demonstrates how to carry out the flu vaccination against the H1N1
Photos 1 of 1
A doctor demonstrates how to carry out the flu vaccination against the H1N1
SINGAPORE: The Health Ministry and government research agency A*Star said the new H1N1 strain can still be treated with mainstay drugs.
The new strain has a rare-occurring mutation that causes it to be mildly resistant to Tamiflu. And when mixed with a more common Tamiflu-resistant mutation, the variant leads to a much stronger reduction in drug sensitivity.
But the MOH and A*Star has said the new strain can still be effectively treated with drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza. They said most people with the flu will make a full recovery without the need for antiviral drugs.
And the Ministry has advised those who are at a higher risk of complications, to get vaccinated against the flu annually. They include the elderly, young children and those with chronic heart and respiratory diseases.
The authorities said Singapore is at the cross-roads between the northern and southern hemispheres, and as a result, has year-round circulations of influenza viruses. As such they would continue to monitor the virus for further changes.
The new variant was discovered in Singapore and Australia by the World Health Organisation's Influenza Collaborating Centre and Singapore's National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and A*STAR's Bioinformatics Institute (BII).
Home ›
Singapore News
New H1N1 strain can be treated with mainstay drugs, say MOH, A*Star
By Monica Kotwani | Posted: 11 June 2011 1719 hrs
A doctor demonstrates how to carry out the flu vaccination against the H1N1
Photos 1 of 1
A doctor demonstrates how to carry out the flu vaccination against the H1N1
SINGAPORE: The Health Ministry and government research agency A*Star said the new H1N1 strain can still be treated with mainstay drugs.
The new strain has a rare-occurring mutation that causes it to be mildly resistant to Tamiflu. And when mixed with a more common Tamiflu-resistant mutation, the variant leads to a much stronger reduction in drug sensitivity.
But the MOH and A*Star has said the new strain can still be effectively treated with drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza. They said most people with the flu will make a full recovery without the need for antiviral drugs.
And the Ministry has advised those who are at a higher risk of complications, to get vaccinated against the flu annually. They include the elderly, young children and those with chronic heart and respiratory diseases.
The authorities said Singapore is at the cross-roads between the northern and southern hemispheres, and as a result, has year-round circulations of influenza viruses. As such they would continue to monitor the virus for further changes.
The new variant was discovered in Singapore and Australia by the World Health Organisation's Influenza Collaborating Centre and Singapore's National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and A*STAR's Bioinformatics Institute (BII).
