Common Strain Of Flu In The U.S. Is Resistant To Tamiflu

Washington (dbTechno) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has come out and revealed that a very common strain of influenza being seen across the U.S. is actually resistant to Tamiflu.

Tamiflu made by Roche AG and Gilead Sciences and is the most commonly used drug to treat flu patients.

The drug has the ability to not only prevent the flu, but also to treat it once people develop symptoms.

The CDC has revealed though in an advisory to doctors that a common strain of the flu in the U.S. is resistant to this common drug.

They discovered that 49% of the samples that they tested were able to resist the drug from working on it.

All hope is not lost though, as the CDC put out the report so that doctors would be able to use other flu drugs.

There are three flu strains, H1N1, H3N2, and influenza B.  According to the CDC, it is the H1N1 strain that is causing the problems.

The CDC is suggesting that doctors go to a similar drug Relenza instead, or use a combination of Tamiflu and an older flu drug.

The states where this strain of the flu is most common include Texas, as well as Massachusetts.