Influenza a (H1n1) and the Resistance to Oseltamivir

Abstract

Influenza is an acute infection of the respiratory system usually self-limiting, evolving towards complete cure due to the immunological response of the infected organism, but that can have serious complications, such as pneumonia and death. It is a disease widely distributed around the world, associated with several pandemics for over a century. The most recent pandemic occurred in 2009, when a new strain of influenza A (H1N1) virus caused an outbreak in Veracruz, Mexico, and rapidly spread though all the continents, causing over 12 thousand deaths in less than a year. Considering that this new strain of the virus is only sensitive to neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir) and that the protocol of the World Health Organization recommends the use of oseltamivir as a single drug therapy, this study was performed with the intention of collecting and compiling data about the occurrence of resistance to this medication, in particular due to a H274Y substitution. In addition to mapping the occurrence of resistant virus, data was also collect about the person-to-person transmission of the virus with the mutation H274Y, as well as about the association of the appearance of resistance with the use of the drug.