Cases of Tamiflu-resistant influenza are increasing in Hong Kong as they have been in the United States, early on in the peak flu season, the city's top disease expert says.
There were 28.1 cases of flu-like illnesses for every 1,000 consultations for the week ending January 3, slightly up from the previous week, the Centre for Health Protection said.
The centre monitors flu outbreaks by keeping track of private clinics designated as part of a sentinel surveillance system.
Thomas Tsang Ho-fai, the centre's controller, said laboratory tests showed 90 per cent of flu-like illnesses were caused by the H1N1 virus, which has been shown to be resistant to the antiviral Tamiflu in the US.
Just a few cases were of the A/H3N2 or B viruses.
The flu has also stricken world tennis women's No1, Serbia's Jelena Jankovic, who had to withdraw from the JP Group Classic tournament at Victoria Park. The dominant circulating strains in Hong Kong have mimicked those in the United States.
