Emergence of resistance to oseltamivir among influenza A(H1N1) viruses in Europe

A Lackenby; O Hungnes; S G Dudman; A Meijer; W J Paget; A J Hay; M C Zambon

doi:10.2807/ese.13.05.08026-en

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Emergence of resistance to oseltamivir among influenza A(H1N1) viruses in Europe
A Lackenby¹ , O Hungnes² , S G Dudman² , A Meijer^3,4 , W J Paget³ , A J Hay⁵ , M C Zambon¹
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Affiliations: ¹ Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infection, London, United Kingdom ² Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway ³ EISS Coordination Centre, Nivel Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands ⁴ National Centre for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands ⁵ WHO Collaborating Centre, MRC National Institute of Medical Research, London, United Kingdom

Correspondence:
M Zambon
Maria.Zambon HPA.org.uk
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Citation style for this article: Lackenby A, Hungnes O, Dudman S G, Meijer A, Paget W J, Hay A J, Zambon M C. Emergence of resistance to oseltamivir among influenza A(H1N1) viruses in Europe. Euro Surveill. 2008;13(5):pii=8026. https://doi.org/10.2807/ese.13.05.08026-en

Abstract

Surveillance of the antiviral susceptibility of influenza viruses circulating in Europe has been established since 2004 through the European Union-funded European Surveillance Network for Vigilance against Viral Resistance (VIRGIL), in collaboration with the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS), the World Health Organization (WHO) and national influenza centres. Results from analysis of early winter (November 2007 - January 2008) A(H1N1) virus isolates has revealed that a significant proportion, approximately 14% of these European strains (see Table), are resistant to oseltamivir (Tamiflu), the most widely used anti-influenza drug, but retain sensitivity to zanamivir (Relenza) and amantadine/rimantadine. .