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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

India : NIV detects three new variants of H1N1 virus / Woman dies of swine flu

Via Times of India, two articles in 1 link :

" PUNE : The National Institute of Virology (NIV) here has detected three new variants of the H1N1 virus. Fortunately, all three variants have shown susceptibility to Tamiflu , the drug used in the treatment of swine flu.

However, with the virus actively acquiring new properties, NIV scientists are apprehensive that it might develop resistance to the medicines used in treating swine flu. “For now, there is no need to worry. But we are closely monitoring the virus for any change in its virulence ,” NIV assistant director Sarah Cherian told TOI recently.

Cherian said seven mutated variants of the virus have been found across the world so far.“As expected of the seasonal influenza virus, the H1N1 virus is also going through constant genetic variations which might lead to significant changes in its antiviral resistance,” she said.

The variants of the H1N1 virus, representing both recovered and fatal cases from major cities – Pune,Mumbai,Delhi,Hyderabad and Bangalore — were analysed at the NIV and the complete genomes of these variants were sequenced . The results of the genetic analysis have been published in the March 2010 issue of the US journal, PLOS One.

Woman dies of swine flu

PUNE : A 48-year-old woman from Baramati succumbed to the H1N1 flu on Sunday, taking the death toll in Pune to 237. Sunanda Mehtre, who was diabetic, died at the Sassoon hospital here at 8 am. "

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