Asia-Pacific
SKorea reports world's 1st Tamiflu-resistant death case
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-17 16:56
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SEOUL: A South Korean infant, whose body showed no response to anti-viral drug Tamiflu, died of pneumonia and respiratory failure on Thursday, the country's health authorities said, which local media say is the first such case in the world.
The one-year-old girl, who was suffering nervous-system disorders, was hospitalized for high fever and coughs last month, but her conditions continued to deteriorate despite taking Tamiflu, or double doses of it in her final days, according to Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs.
Health authorities last week confirmed the virus resistant to Tamiflu was found in the infant's body.
This is the first such fatality reported at home and abroad, with South Korea having reported two other similar cases of Tamiflu-resistant patients and the World Health Organization 102 cases worldwide, Seoul's media reports said.
The girl was too young to be given relenza, which is approved for treatment in children who are seven years and older, according to local media.
South Korea has posted 117 A/H1N1 flu fatalities as of December 4, according to data collected by the health ministry.
