The new strain of H7N9 bird flu virus confirmed last month could become drug-resistant¹, experts say.

专家称，上月确诊的H7N9禽流感病毒的新菌株可能具耐药性。

The strain, two human cases of which were reported in Guangdong, shows resistance to oseltamivir phosphate, a commonly used drug in the prevention and treatment of flu, said Zhong Nanshan, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

呼吸系统疾病专家、中国工程院院士钟南山表示，广东省上报的两例人感染H7N9新菌株的病例显示对达菲(磷酸奥司他韦)出现耐药。达菲是预防和治疗流感的常用药。

Although the two patients are resistant to the drug, oseltamivir phosphate has been effective for most human H7N9 cases, the specialist in respiratory diseases said.

钟南山称，尽管两名病人对达菲出现耐药，但该药物对大部分人感染H7N9病例来说仍然有效。

"This shows most H7N9 viruses have not mutated to the new strain," Zhong added.

他还表示："这说明大部分H7N9病毒并未变异为新菌株。"

"Both patients have used oseltamivir phosphate before, so it is not known whether the drug resistance is caused by previous use of the dug or by a mutation² of the virus," He Jianfeng, chief expert in infectious disease at the Guangdong Provincial³ Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said.

广东省疾控中心传染病首席专家何剑峰表示："两名病人之前都用过达菲，因此目前尚不清楚抗药性是以前用过此药导致的还是病毒变异产生的。"

"But the possible drug-resistant nature of the new strain deserves more attention," he added.

但新菌株可能具耐药性一事值得关注。