NEW DELHI : The deadly H5N1 bird flu virus that hit India in February 2006 was sensitive to Tamiflu, the drug which many governments including India used to ward off a deadly bird flu pandemic.

Genetic and DNA sequencing of the virus collected from Jalgaon and Navapur by scientists from Bhopal 's High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, has revealed that the virus contained several types of amino acids - glutamic acid, asparigine, histidine and arvinone - that made it sensitive to Tamiflu.

This, scientists say, helped India avert a possible transmission of the deadly H5N1 virus from birds to humans.

Scientists B Patnaik and C Tosh, who have completed sequencing the genes HA1 and HA2 of the virus and studying the 10 proteins, specially HA and NA present in the virus, told TOI that "timely administering of Tamiflu to those who were quarantined on suspicions of having been in contact with H5N1 virus infected birds, helped us avert the transmission of the virus to humans.

DNA analysis of the virus has shown it to be highly sensitive to Tamiflu". According to lab chief H K Pradhan, some countries including Vietnam have reported that the virus circulating there is resistant to Tamiflu making its containment even more difficult.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/223059.cms