First oseltamivir-resistant pandemic [H1N1] 2009 influenza virus from the EMR

ABSTRACT

Yemen reported its first oseltamivir resistant pandemic [H1N1] 2009 virus in October 2009. This is also the first case of oseltamivir resistance virus reported from the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The specimen was taken from a 3 year old female child who was admitted to the hospital on 07 October with high grade of fever, cough, sore throat, body ache and difficulty in breathing. The child is also a known case of congential heart disease with pulmonary hypertension. The child was put on antiviral medicine and was tested positive for H1N1 by RT-PCR on 9 October at the National Public Health Laboratory of Yemen. The clinical condition of the child did not improve even 10 days after she was put on treatment. At this stage, her second nasal swab was tested positive for H1N1. The isolate was sent to NAMRU-3 [WHO CC] for routine antiviral resistance test and found to be resistant to oseltamivir. The patient has now clinically improved with no fever and difficulty in breathing