42 States Report Flu Activity; Alerts, Warnings Issued for 17 States.

Business and Health Editors

OKLAHOMA CITY--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 16, 2001

ZymeTx, Inc., (Nasdaq:ZMTX):

Louisiana Hardest Hit To Date, According to NFSN Officials

State Placed at Epidemic Level

Officials Anticipate Late Flu Season 

Increased flu activity is being reported in a dozen communities across the nation for the week of January 15, 2001, according to the National Flu Surveillance Network(tm)(NFSN), a service of ZymeTx, Inc., (Nasdaq:ZMTX), a viral disease management company.

Communities being hit the hardest so far this winter flu season are Atlanta, Ga.; Knoxville and Memphis, Tenn.; Dallas-Fort Worth; New York City; Oklahoma City and the Tampa Bay area in Florida. Consistent high flu prevalence across Louisiana prompted NFSN officials to upgrade the State from Warning to Epidemic, the highest level. Over 100 positive flu cases were reported to NFSN from sites in Louisiana during the past week.

According to the NFSN, an online disease surveillance service that pinpoints and tracks influenza outbreaks in virtual real time at www.fluwatch.com, as of Jan. 15, 2001, 17 states report influenza at the Alert status or above. Alert status is issued when flu is being reported at least every other day in moderate numbers. A warning is issued when flu is being reported daily in high numbers.

The NFSN consists of nearly 6,300 volunteer physicians at over 1,100 surveillance sites located in all 50 states.

"We continue to see sporadic outbreaks of flu in various parts of the country. Flu is accelerating in certain areas primarily the southeastern part of the United States," said Dr. Robert Hudson, Managing Director, NFSN and ZymeTx Vice President.

"There are no indications flu is diminishing at this time, and we may be several weeks from the peak of the flu season," Dr. Hudson cautioned. "Flu outbreaks, however, have been at a minimum thus far, despite late delivery of the flu vaccine. Last year, flu peaked in mid-January. Indications point to a later-than-usual flu season this year."

In addition to the states on Alert or Warning status, 25 states are on Watch status, meaning influenza has been reported more than once within a week. For the latest update on flu activity, refer to www.fluwatch.com.

NFSN physicians use the 20-minute point-of-care flu diagnostic test, ZstatFlu(R), developed and marketed by ZymeTx, to confirm the presence of Influenza A and B with 99 percent specificity (1 percent false positives)(Note a). Reports are filed with the NFSN center in Oklahoma City, where the data is posted on the NFSN Internet site at www.fluwatch.com.

With new influenza therapeutic drugs now available, physicians can administer a complete influenza disease management program. From vaccination to surveillance, diagnosis and treatment -- all the elements to prevent, detect and treat flu in North America are in place.

"As a result," Dr. Hudson said, "the overall quality of flu care can improve for everyone."

Dr. Hudson believes more physicians are using the diagnostic test since doing so can substantially reduce the chance of a misdiagnosis. Last year the FDA issued a Public Health Advisory of serious bacterial illnesses misdiagnosed and treated as viral illnesses. "An accurate diagnosis is critical," said Dr. Hudson.

ZymeTx, Inc. is an emerging biotechnology company engaged in the development of unique products for the diagnosis and treatment of viral diseases, viral management and disease surveillance. The company developed ZstatFlu and the National Flu Surveillance Network (NFSN), a network of surveillance sites located across the country with physicians using ZstatFlu to track influenza in their communities and practices. ZstatFlu and National Flu Surveillance Network are trademarks of ZymeTx, Inc.

Note a: In actual clinical studies - see product package insert.