H1N1 virus mutating? Tamiflu-resistant cases reported

Reports have been submitted by half-a-dozen countries to the World Health Organization recording swine flu virus mutation cases. Currently WHO is investigating reports of mutations in the swine flu virus, foreign media reports. Currently the question is whether these mutations again suggest that there is a fundamental change going on in viruses out there -- whether there's a turn for the worse in terms of severity. WHO special adviser says the answer right now is that we are not sure," he added following reports from China, Japan, Norway, Ukraine and the United States. He noted, however, that mutations are common in influenza viruses, and "if every mutation is reported out there it would be like reporting changes in the weather." Doctors are trying to identify if these mutations are leading to any kinds of changes in the clinical picture -- do they cause more severe or less severe disease? At the moment, the mutated A(H1N1) virus has been detected both in people with more severe and milder diseases. China said earlier Thursday that it had discovered eight people with mutated versions of swine flu while Norway reported last week that it had detected one case. Expert said the UN health agency was looking into Tamiflu-resistant cases reported in Britain and the United States but noted they concerned people who are already undergoing treatment for other diseases or who have underlying health issues.