Mutation detected in Hong Kong toddler
Hong Kong’s Department of Health said Monday that it previously detected a mutated form of the A(H1N1) flu virus using samples from a 1-year-old boy, which is the same mutation recently discovered in Norway.
The boy was infected in July and he has since recovered, much earlier than patients in Norway.
He was admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital on July 25 and had no travel history.
The virus was detected in one of the 123 genetic sequences the department studied.
“No evidence suggests that the mutation would cause an increase in the number of A(H1N1) cases. The mutated virus is sensitive to antiviral drugs Relenza and Tamiflu,”said a spokesman in the department.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the same mutated (changed) virus has been found in other countries and regions including the Chinese mainland, Brazil, Japan, Mexico and the United States.
The mainland confirmed more A(H1N1) cases.
All influenza cases were confirmed as A(H1N1) in the past two weeks in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, Shenzhen TV reported Tuesday.