Stop lab testing once pandemic flu is found.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)(Report)(Brief article)

Countries with existing cases of pandemic virus influenza A(H1N1) should stop widespread laboratory testing and move to wider indicators of disease, a top World Health Organization official said.

Dr. Keiji Fukuda, the WHO'S interim assistant director-general for health, security, and environment, said in a telephone press conference that eliminating laboratory testing would ease the burden on national health departments dealing with widespread outbreaks of the virus.

Tailored testing of influenza cases will assist epidemiologists in estimating the incidence of pandemic H1N1 cases in the community, Dr. Fukuda said. He said the WHO will recommend testing of unusually severe cases, unusual clusters, or unusual symptoms.

Countries without cases should continue with laboratory testing of suspected cases of the pandemic virus, he said.

Speaking on cases of oseltamivir-resistant pandemic virus H1N1, Dr. Fukuda said there is no evidence of widespread transmission of the mutated virus.

The three separate cases in Denmark, Japan, and Hong Kong appear to have the same spontaneous mutation but do not appear to have reassorted with seasonal influenza viruses, he said.

The WHO does not recommend any changes to clinical treatment protocols for oseltamivir-resistant cases, Dr. Fukuda said.

He added that the WHO and national epidemiological agencies continue to watch for more sustained transmission of the resistant virus.

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