The Department of Health has detected a strain of human swine flu virus resistant to Tamiflu. It is the fourth time Tamiflu resistance to the virus has been found in Hong Kong and is the third local case.

However, the strain is sensitive to Relenza.

The virus was taken from a 16-year-old girl who came down with flu-like symptoms September 14 and attended a designated flu clinic September 16. She had no history of taking Tamiflu before the specimen was taken. She has recovered.

The case will be reported to the World Health Organisation. So far more than 5,000 swine flu samples have been tested for anti-viral sensitivity in Hong Kong.