Department of Health
The Department of Health is the Government's health adviser and agency to execute healthcare policies and statutory functions. It safeguards the health of the community through promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services.
A strain of human swine influenza taken from a 53-year-old woman has been found to be Tamiflu resistant, the Department of Health confirmed today.
The woman, a chronic patient on long-term immunosuppressive therapy, was admitted to United Christian Hospital on January 19. She was sensitive to Tamiflu and was discharged on January 24.
However, she was readmitted on January 28 with shortness of breath. Test results today showed the virus isolated from her was resistant to Tamiflu but sensitive to Relenza.
This is the eighth case of Tamiflu resistance to the swine flu virus detected in Hong Kong and will be reported to the World Health Organisation.
