Swine flu update: CDC reminds camps about proper anti-viral use; vaccine expected in October

Jul 27, 2009 10:39 AM

Swine (H1N1) flu has dipped this summer from peak levels in spring, but it has remained far more active than seasonal flu—especially in places where children and young people congregate, such as summer camps and military academies. Last week, the New York Times reported on steps camps are taking to protect children from swine flu, including providing the antiviral Tamiflu to all campers.

On Friday, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent a reminder that antiviral drugs approved for swine flu, including Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir), are recommended for the treatment of the flu—not typically for prevention. "There is a place for preventive use of these drugs, mainly for the very high-risk people who are in extremely close contact with someone with the virus," said Anne Schuchat, the Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. But camps and other institutions should generally focus on other more important prevention methods, such as separating the sick from others and encouraging hand washing and good hygiene.

According to the CDC, there have been five isolated cases where the swine flu virus has shown resistance to Tamiflu. That’s a pretty small number of cases—but officials are watching the swine flu virus carefully, because almost all strains of the seasonal H1N1 virus are resistant to Tamiflu. And overuse may be a factor in resistance. "Our efforts are really trying to make sure people know the right way to use the medicines, the role that they play, and the risk of resistance that's out there that we don't want to get any worse," said Schuchat.

Vaccine expected in October

There’s still a long way to go before there is a vaccine for swine flu, but so far the signs have been positive. Clinical trials have been planned, and this week a panel will convene to develop recommendations for which populations should be targeted, and what populations, if any, should be given priority. If all goes well officials expect to have a vaccine in October.

The flu season is still underway in the Southern Hemisphere, and swine flu is causing both mild and severe cases. The good news is that the virus does not appear to be mutating, or changing significantly, so the antigen in the vaccines would likely be effective.

—Kevin McCarthy, associate editor

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