WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—
The Center for Disease Control says North Carolina has the largest cluster of Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 cases in the country.Duke University Hospital treated four patients over the past six weeks that didn't respond to the first-line antiviral. And at least two patients at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center were also unresponsive to the drug, the latest case happening in September.
The patients at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center survived after receiving other treatments, but three of the Duke University Hospital patients died from the mutated strain.
North Carolina Epidemiologist Dr. Megan Davies said that all four patients at Duke University Hospital had other serious medical problems.
"All were hospitalized on the same unit at Duke University Medical Center. Three of those patients have died, although its not clear whether their deaths were related to flu infections." Davies said.
Davies said the fourth patient is recovering and emphasized that the mutated H1N1 strain is not stronger than the original. In the meantime, they are investigating if the four cases are related in any other way.
The CDC said they found 21 other cases of the mutated H1N1 strand across the country.
The first reported instance of Tamiflu-resistant swine flu spreading from one person to another occurred about four months ago at a summer camp in western North Carolina, where two teenage girls -- cabin mates -- were diagnosed with the same drug-resistant strain. Health officials said at the time that the virus may have spread from one girl to the other, or it's possible that the girls got it from another camper.
Overall, CDC officials said Friday that swine flu cases appear to be declining throughout most of the U.S., with reports of swine flu illnesses widespread in 43 states last week, down from 46 the week before.
CDC officials also said reports have been increasing in a few states, including Maine and Hawaii. They said it's hard to know whether the epidemic has peaked or not, and many people will be gathering -- and spreading germs -- next week at Thanksgiving.
