Researchers at the University of Wisconsin discovered a new chemical compound that may be more effective than other drugs at treating avian flu in humans.

In a study published Feb. 26 in the Public Library of Science, a team of researchers led by UW virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka discovered that a new compound called CS-8958 has improved the survival rate of mice with avian flu. This was compared to other drugs on the market used to treat H5N1, the strain of avian flu that affects humans.

The new compound may also help combat strains of avian flu that have mutated to become resistant to drugs already on the market.

The new compound was compared to a drug on the market called oseltamivir, and mice with a single dose of CS-8958 had a higher survival rate than those with continuous oseltamivir over a period of five days.

There have been no tests conducted on humans, only on mice. The drug has not only improved survival rates in mice, but also successfully prevented the infection of the avian flu in mice.

“A single dose of CS-8958 given seven days prior to virus infection also protected mice against H5N1 virus lethal infection,” the study said.

While University Health Services Epidemiologist Craig Roberts noted there have been no reports of avian flu in humans in the United States, the discovery of the new compound could help those who succumb to other forms of influenza.

Roberts said it would be good to have CS-8958 available to the public. While UHS has never had to treat or handle a student with avian flu, he said the drug may be valuable to students who may come down with influenza, or if there ever were to be a pandemic strain of H5N1.

The study indicated that the global impact of influenza epidemics is estimated to be 3.5 million cases of severe illness and 300,000 to 500,000 deaths annually.

Jill Sakai, UW spokesperson, said CS-8958 is not yet a drug, because it is not yet available on the market, and while there have not been tests conducted on humans, they are expected in the future. There has not yet been a determined timeline for such experiments.

She said the compound would not replace what drugs are already on the market, but will be another option.

“[The] problem is that there are strains of the virus that are resistant to the flu, and the new strain will give people another option,” Sakai said.

The study said the World Health Organization recommends the drug oseltamivir to countries anticipating outbreaks of H5N1, including Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

However, there have been isolated strains of H5N1 that are resistant to oseltamivir. The new compound, once tested on humans, could help those who become infected with strains resistant to the treatments on the market.

There have been cases in the world of people dying from these drug resistant strains, the study said.

CS-8958 has also been tested on mice infected with H1N1, although the results were not as successful as they were with H5N1.