Southern California Respiratory Viruses

We continue to see increasing RSV in the community and one hospital last week had an influenza A isolated. We have an occasional Parainfluenza type 2 but that is slowing down as we approach the winter. We expect RSV to continue to increase and stay at endemic levels for the next month before slowing down. The current rates for RSV are well over 10%. We anticipate that influenza will start to pick up over the next week.

Be aware that the CDC has issued a statement in which preliminary data from a limited number of states indicates that the prevalence of influenza A (H1N1) virus strains resistant to the antiviral medication oseltamivir is high. Because of this, the interim recommendations for antiviral treatment and chemoprophylaxis of influenza during the 2008-09 influenza season include the use of Oseltamivir or Zanimivir and not the first generation agents (Amantidine/Rimantidine).
The information can be seen at the following link:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/antivirals/index.htm.