Created: 11/20/2009 3:30:39 PM 
Raleigh, NC -- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says three of four people in North Carolina who tested positive for a type of the H1N1 flu that's resistant to the drug Tamiflu have died.
It's the first cluster of that many cases seen in the U.S. Megan Davies from the Department of Health and Human Services says the four cases were reported at Duke University Medical Center in Durham over the past six weeks. All four were adults. Of the three that die, doctors say they all had underlying conditions and right now are classifying them as "influenza-related deaths." North Carolina notified other states as well as the Centers for Disease Control who did the testing. Tamiflu is one of two medicines that help against H1N1. Health officials have been closely watching for signs that the virus is mutating, making the drugs ineffective. They say this is a point mutation, meaning it's a single mutation in one spot. This does not mean the overall H1N1 virus is mutating. Another FDA approved medication Zanamivir is still effective. Health officials say the number of resistant cases in the U.S. since April is 21. This does not include the four new cases in North Carolina. The CDC reports overall the number of H1N1 flu cases has been declining. They feel this is due to vaccination. Health officials also say the vaccine is safe and effective against preventing this point-mutation.
On The Web: Additional Resources And Information For The H1N1 Flu Virus
WFMY News 2 / Associated Press
