Influenza: Update for SC and CDC Health Advisory

BAD NEWS. The first documented case of influenza has been confirmed in South Carolina. The case was in Charleston. Get your vaccination! Take preventative steps!

MORE BAD NEWS. On 12/19/08, the CDC issued a Health Advisory. Bottom line: so far, based on a very limited sample, 98% of cultured viruses are resistant to oseltamivir (Tamiflu)!! (Last year, the resistance rate to oseltamivir was 10.9%.) The good news is that all viruses were susceptible to zanavir, amantadine and rimantadine.

For health care professionals, the recommended medications are here. Summary: 1. consider using an influenza test that can differentiate between influenza A and influenza B. 2. For influenza A, use zanamivir. For influenza B, consider either oseltamivir or zanamivir. These are rough guidelines. your physician should consider the local surveillance data and your individual health factors. If you have questions, ask you doctor...