06/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - Preliminary results from a survey of antiviral drug susceptibility among seasonal influenza viruses circulating in Europe have been confirmed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) (see EUROPE 9589). So far, 437 samples of influenza A(H1N1) viruses in circulation this winter (isolated in 18 European countries) have been tested and of the 437 samples, 59 from nine countries showed evidence of resistance to oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu, produced by Roche). Resistance is particularly high in Norway (26 of the samples that tested positive for resistance to oseltamivir came from Norway) but there is considerable resistance everywhere, although not as high as in Norway, concludes the ECDS, commenting that people who get ill with the oseltamivir resistant strain of A(H1N1) do not appear to get any more ill than people infected with “normal” seasonal influenza. In Brussels, a health spokesperson for the European Commission, Haravgi-Nina Papadoulaki, recognised the importance of the results but highlighted that scientific investigation was continuing. 'The oseltamivir-resistant strain remains sensitive to the antivirals, zanamivir and amantadine,' commented Haravgi-Nina Papadoulaki, adding: 'At the moment, no changes to national protocols on use of antiviral drugs would seem to be justified by the data.' (O.J.)