NZ over 200 cases confirmed, early limited community transmission

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ: Hawke's Bay pupils isolated

Re: NZ: Hawke's Bay pupils isolated

A Hawkes Bay student is the latest person in the country who is suspected of having swine flu.

The Ministry of Health says the student was among a group who returned from Los Angeles on Tuesday and then travelled by bus to Hawkes Bay.

The student has tested positive for influenza A.

All 53 passengers who were on the bus with the student are being treated with Tamiflu and asked to isolate themselves at home.

That brings to 269 the number of people in isolation and being treated with Tamiflu - 119 fewer than Friday.
No evidence of swine flu spreading - Health Ministry

The ministry says that within New Zealand there are now four confirmed cases of swine flu, 12 probable cases and 101 suspected cases.
But the ministry's national coordinator for pandemic planning, Steve Brazier, there's no evidence of it spreading.
He says no swine flu is circulating in the community at present, but a number of people are testing positive for influenza of other kinds.
Passengers on flight NZ1 in the clear

There is no longer any official concern about passengers on flight NZ1, the flight that alerted authorities to the possible presence of swine flu in this country.
NZ1 arrived from Los Angeles at 5am last Saturday with 387 passengers on board.
Deputy director of public health Darren Hunt says most of them have either finished their course of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu or have remained symptom-free for seven days.
However, 18 of the passengers can't be traced.
Passengers on domestic flight no longer being sought

Health authorities are no longer seeking people seated near a female airline passenger who tested positive for the influenza A virus, of which swine flu is one form.
After arriving in Auckland on NZ1, the woman took flight NZ405 to Wellington last Saturday morning. Passengers seated on two rows either side of her, on both flights, were being sought at one stage, but it has been confirmed that she only has seasonal flu.
Health authorities say anyone who has arrived from the United States or Mexico in the past seven days and develops flu-like symptoms should get in touch with a health professional.
NZ swine flu samples used to develop vaccine

Scientists at the World Health Organisation laboratory in Melbourne are using samples from confirmed swine flu cases in New Zealand in the race to develop a vaccine.
The samples were taken from Rangitoto College students who were on NZ1 after a trip to Mexico.
Scientists are growing the virus by injecting it into hens' eggs.
The head of the laboratory, Anne Kelso, says the virus in the New Zealand cases is very similar to those found in California and Texas.
If the virus continues to spread globally, she says, it will be important to have samples from different areas at different times, in order to determine how it is changing.
Check travel insurance, advises council

The Insurance Council says travel insurance policies might not cover people who contract swine flu while they are overseas.
The council's chief executive, Chris Ryan, says that people who have booked trips to countries where the H1N1 virus has been confirmed need to check what cover they have before setting off.
He says the risks are greater in countries where swine flu has been identified, so travellers to such countries are unlikely to be covered.
Mr Ryan says it is up to individual insurance companies to decide whether they will provide cover for swine flu.


http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/05/02/1245af3d1df7

 

[kiwibird]

Re: NZ Cites 136 Suspected Swine Flu Cases, No New Confirmations

Re: NZ Cites 136 Suspected Swine Flu Cases, No New Confirmations

http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/influenza-a-h1n1-update-eighteen-020509
Media Release
5pm, 2 May 2009

Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu - Update Nineteen

The most recent situation report at 5pm Saturday 2 May shows 12 probable cases who have tested positive to Influenza A, and 4 confirmed cases.

In addition there are 101 suspected cases (down from 116 on Friday). These are people who have developed symptoms of influenza within seven days of having been in the areas of concern or are close contacts of cases and have flu-like symptoms.

In total there are 269 people in isolation and being treated with Tamiflu (down from 388 on Friday). This includes suspected cases and people without symptoms who are being isolated as a precaution because they were in close contact with a suspected case.

These numbers will fluctuate as a result of more suspected cases being found, or suspected cases being ruled out.

Contact tracing - new probable case in Hawke's Bay; Wellington case cleared

These numbers include a Hawke's Bay student who has tested positive for influenza A. The student was in a party of students from Hawke's Bay who travelled from Los Angeles arriving in New Zealand at 5.30am on Tuesday 28 April and then travelled by bus to Hawke's Bay.

All 53 passengers on the bus are being treated as close contacts and treated with tamiflu and asked to stay in isolation at home.

A Wellington woman who tested positive for Influenza A after arriving in Auckland from Los Angeles on NZ1 on Sunday 26 April has been cleared. She has seasonal influenza. Tracing by officials has been stopped of people sitting close to the women on her international and domestic flight as they are no longer of concern.

Please attribute these comments to Deputy Director of Public Health Dr Darren Hunt.

 

[Sally Furniss]

NZ: Mre data gathered on incoming International Passengers

NZ: Mre data gathered on incoming International Passengers

Airport measures stepped up

Health authorities dealing with swine flu are stepping up their efforts to gather information from international passengers arriving New Zealand airports.


Auckland International Airport, where planes from the United States land, had been the focus of public health efforts. Passengers arriving on flights from North America had been asked to provide extra details, such as contact telephone numbers.


Now, international passengers arriving in Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown also have to fill out forms to say where they can be contacted in New Zealand.


Health Minister Tony Ryall says this is a precautionary step, so improved contact information is available to the authorities if there are further cases of swine flu.


The Ministry of Health says that within New Zealand there are now four confirmed cases of swine flu, 12 probable cases and 101 suspected cases.


On Saturday, 269 people were isolation and being treated with Tamiflu - 119 fewer than the day before.


http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/05/03/1245af4cb307

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 16 confimed or probable, 111 suspect

Re: NZ 16 confimed or probable, 111 suspect

A person who arrived in Auckland on a flight from San Francisco in the United States last Tuesday is the latest in New Zealand suspected of having swine flu.

The person had tested positive for influenza A and samples were being further tested to see if they had swine flu (H1N1), Ministry of Health deputy director of Public Health Darren Hunt said today.

The person arrived from San Francisco on flight NZ7 and health officials were attempting to find people who had been in close contact with the person, including the passengers two rows in front and two rows behind them, Dr Hunt said.

This case brought the number of probable cases of swine flu in New Zealand to 13. Four cases had been confirmed and 89 people were suspected of having the illness.

In total there were 360 people in isolation or quarantine being treated with Tamiflu, up 91 from yesterday, which included suspected cases and people without symptoms but who were being isolated as a precaution.
These numbers would fluctuate as suspected cases were found or ruled out, Dr Hunt said.

Meanwhile , a 45-year-old New Zealand man is being tested for swine flu on Penang, a Malaysian resort island, after complaining of fever and body aches.

The man, who arrived in Malaysia on April 25, had been placed under observation at a hospital on the island, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai told the New Straits Times newspaper.

New Zealand was operating at a Code Yellow status as part of the Influenza Pandemic Action Plan, which meant the ambulance service was in a planning and preparedness phase.

The World Health Organisation alert level is one step away from its highest level.

Worldwide, 18 countries have confirmed cases.

Nineteen people were confirmed to have died of swine flu in Mexico and one in the United States.
Almost all infections outside Mexico have been mild, and only a handful of patients have required hospital treatment.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/2380841/New-US-flight-carries-swine-flu-suspect

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 16 confimed or probable, 111 suspect

Re: NZ 16 confimed or probable, 111 suspect

360 now in swine flu isolation

By STACEY WOOD - The Dominion Post Last updated 05:00 04/05/2009


The number of probable New Zealand swine flu cases has risen to 13 with the addition of a passenger who arrived in Auckland from San Francisco.

The person tested positive for influenza A and samples have been sent to ESR for further testing to determine the strain.
Passengers who sat around him on the aircraft last week and other contacts have been put in isolation and treated with Tamiflu, boosting the number in isolation or quarantine by nearly 100, to 360.
The number of confirmed cases remains steady at four.
The deputy director of public health, Darren Hunt, said the number of people in "voluntary" quarantine was likely to continue to fluctuate as further tests came in this week.
All passengers entering New Zealand on international flights are now required to fill out detailed contact and location forms in case of further swine flu diagnoses.
Meanwhile, all quarantined pupils from Rangitoto College are expected back at school today.
Principal David Hodge said it was business as usual as far as he was concerned.
"We had a swine flu reunion on Saturday night at a Browns Bay cafe and all parents, teachers, and students were there and everyone's `cured'."


http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/2381281/360-now-in-swine-flu-isolation

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 16 confimed or probable, 111 suspect

Re: NZ 16 confimed or probable, 111 suspect

Swine flu not spreading in NZ - ministry

<!-- UID: f80bf973b7c521964edbe53e370c798e99e8bf44 AID: 1935221 C: 2009-05-03 08:27:59 U: 2009-05-04 09:04:41 P: 2009-05-04 09:04:41 --> Updated at 9:04am on 4 May 2009
There have been no signs of swine flu spreading within New Zealand, say health officials.
The Ministry of Health says that within New Zealand there are now four confirmed cases of swine flu, 13 probable cases and 89 suspected cases.
Deputy director of public health, Darren Hunt, says the confirmed and suspected cases have either contracted the flu overseas or been in close contact with those who have.
Dr Hunt told Morning Report a lot of effort is being put into ensuring there is no community transmission of swine flu, especially going into the winter flu season, and none has been seen yet.
The latest suspected case of the virus is that of an Auckland woman who travelled on flight NZ7 from San Francisco on Tuesday. She was identified on Sunday as probably having swine flu and health authorities are trying to trace passengers who sat near her.
A student from Hawke's Bay who returned from from Los Angeles on Tuesday, earlier tested positive for Influenza A, which linked to the H1N1 strain.
The results of further tests to determine whether the student has swine flu should arrive back from the World Health Organisation laboratory in Melbourne on Monday.
On Sunday, the Ministry of Health said 360 people were isolation and being treated with Tamiflu, 91 more than the day before.
But the ministry says the number of people in quarantine will continue to fluctuate as more suspected cases come to light, while others are ruled out.
The head of the National Influenza Centre, Sue Huang, says not much is known about the swine flu virus and it is too soon to tell whether it has been contained.
Airport measures stepped up

Health authorities dealing with swine flu are stepping up their efforts to gather information from international passengers arriving New Zealand airports.
Auckland International Airport, where planes from the United States land, had been the focus of public health efforts.
Passengers arriving on flights from North America had been asked to provide extra details, such as contact telephone numbers.
Now, international passengers arriving in Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown also have to fill out forms to say where they can be contacted in New Zealand.
The Ministry of Health says it's a precaution in case it is discovered the disease has taken hold in other countries after the flights have arrived.
It says passengers can then be contacted much quicker.
Niue requests passenger screening

New Zealand authorities will screen all passengers who are flying out of the country to Niue for influenza-type symptoms, at the request of the island's government.
Mr Ryall says public health staff at Auckland International Airport will monitor the 110 or so passengers who catch the weekly flight to Niue.
He says Niue's request follows a recent outbreak of influenza on the island.
NZ's 'reputation damaged'

Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe says the country's reputation has been damaged by swine flu.
Mr Fyfe says New Zealand had a disproportionate amount of coverage on international news channels, because it was among the first countries after Mexico to confirm cases of the disease.
He told TVNZ's Q+A programme that will have damaged New Zealand's reputation as a tourist destination.
"I think bringing awareness of the fact that this was moving around the globe was very important," he said.
"I'm just not sure we had to be the poster child for swine flu moving around the world."
Church services changed

Mass at Catholic churches was being altered on Sunday to take precautions against the spread of influenza.
A spokesperson for the Auckland Catholic church, Lyndsay Freer, says the chalice would not be offered during holy communion, and people would only receive the host.
Communion would be received on the hand, rather than the tongue, and the sign of peace, where people shake hands and greet each other, would be discontinued.


http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/05/03/1245af4cb307

 

[NZchick]

Re: NZ 16 confimed or probable

Re: NZ 16 confimed or probable

NZ cautious as swine flu threat fades
Nine days after swine flu was detected in New Zealand, the Ministry of Health believes the public are not at great risk of being infected, but it is remaining cautious.

The ministry said yesterday that there was no evidence swine flu had spread beyond people who had travelled to Mexico or the United States, or people who had been in close contact with them.

A spokesman said the World Health Organisation's pandemic danger signs - community outbreaks and unexplainable human-to-human transmission - were not evident in New Zealand.

However, there is still the possibility that it could continue to mutate and be a threat, Health Ministry deputy director of public health Darren Hunt said today.

"Influenza viruses can change and that's another good reason to take a precautionary approach," he told Radio New Zealand.

"Keep it out of the community just in case the virus does change and become more severe."

It was particularly important as southern hemisphere countries such as New Zealand headed into the traditional winter flu season, Dr Hunt said.

"Certainly, going into the winter flu season we don't want an additional load of more influenza in the country circulating.

"We also don't have a perfect handle on what this new virus is like yet, and so we are making a lot of effort to ensure there is no community transmission of it."

To date, there had been no spreading of the virus within the community, he said.

Calls to the Healthline with swine flu queries have tapered off. However, health authorities have been tightening controls to ensure the bug is contained and stamped out.


Dr Hunt said he believed the swift reaction by health authorities here had kept the outbreak well contained, but that they were ready if the situation deteriorated.

Prime Minister John Key said today the Government did not over-react to the swine flu threat.

"We did everything we should be doing," he said on NewstalkZB.

"You can't sit back when there's a potential pandemic and do nothing.

"The Government put its pandemic plan into action, it was a good plan and it was well thought-through."

Mr Key said New Zealand's response was ahead of a lot of other countries.

"That shows how efficient our systems are."

International passengers arriving in Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown must fill out detailed locator cards to ensure that they can be easily and quickly contacted.

The ministry said it was a precaution in case the disease was found to have taken hold in other countries after the flights had arrived.

A flu management protocol to prevent the spread of the bug has been sent to Auckland's general practices. The "toot three times" policy recommends that people who have travelled to affected areas or are suffering flu-like symptoms wait outside clinics and toot their horns for medical help. This would give doctors or nurses time to protect themselves before escorting patients into isolation.

A person who arrived in Auckland from the US last Tuesday is the latest in the country suspected of having swine flu. Ministry of Health deputy director of Public Health Darren Hunt said the person had tested positive for influenza A and samples were being tested for swine flu (H1N1). Health officials were attempting to find people who had been on flight NZ7 from San Francisco and had been in close contact with the person.

This brought the number of probable cases in New Zealand to 13. Four cases had been confirmed and 89 people had been suspected of having the illness. In total, there were 360 people in isolation or quarantine taking Tamiflu, up 91 from Saturday.

Three Samoan nationals who were on the same flight as the Rangitoto College students suspected to have swine flu have been cleared. The trio were among the 18 passengers on flight NZ1 who could not be located, but were later traced to Samoa.

Meanwhile, a 45-year-old New Zealand man was being tested for H1N1 on Penang, a Malaysian resort island, after complaining of fever and aches.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10570238

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 5 confirmed

Re: NZ 5 confirmed

New Zealand has its sixth confirmed case of the H1N1 flu infection.
The Ministry of Health says there are 12 probable cases of the virus; one fewer than Sunday.
The number of suspected cases has dropped by 20 from Sunday afternoon and is now 69.
Twenty-five people have come out of quarantine since Sunday, leaving 335 people in isolation.
The group of Rangitoto College students whose trip to Mexico sparked the first swine flu tests in New Zealand returned to school on Monday, including the four confirmed with the virus.
The Health Ministry says there is still no evidence of community transmission to date.
This means all the cases have recently returned from travelling in affected areas or have been in close contact with someone with the virus.

New Zealand is about to hit the flu season and authorities world wide will be watching how the bug circulates over the next few months as they prepare the first swine flu vaccine and then decide whether to order large amounts for the Northern Hemisphere's autumn.
Worldwide, 19 countries have reported 900 cases of swine flu infection.
This includes 506 confirmed human cases of infection, including 19 deaths.

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/fifth-confirmed-case-h1n1-in-nz-2701854

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 6 confirmed

Re: NZ 6 confirmed

New Zealand now has six confirmed cases of swine flu and 11 probable cases.

The number of confirmed cases is up two, according to the latest Ministry of Health update issued on Monday.
The number of suspected cases is down from 89 to 69, while the number in isolation is down by 25 to 335. They are being treated with Tamiflu.
The latest case is an Auckland student who travelled on Flight NZ1 from Los Angeles with four students from Rangitoto College, who also had the virus, also known as H1N1.
The student has already recovered after treatment with Tamiflu and is out of quarantine - but had not been confirmed until now.
Earlier on Monday, the first case of swine flu was confirmed in Hawke's Bay among a school group from Lindisfarne College that had been touring California.
Two students among a group of 46 students and six staff, who returned to New Zealand on 28 April, had been considered probable cases.
The test of the Lindisfarne College student is the first to have been confirmed in New Zealand at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research in Wellington. ESR is still studying the second Hawke's Bay case.
The latest suspected case of the virus is that of an Auckland woman who travelled on flight NZ7 from San Francisco on Tuesday. She was identified on Sunday as probably having swine flu and health authorities are trying to trace passengers who sat near her.
Meanwhile, a New Zealander under observation at a hospital in Malaysia has also been cleared of swine flu. The 45-year old man, who is married to a Malaysian, arrived in the country on 25 April.
No sign of virus spreading in NZ - officials

There have been no signs of swine flu spreading within New Zealand, according to health officials.
Deputy director of public health Darren Hunt says the confirmed and suspected cases have either contracted the flu overseas or been in close contact with those who have.
Dr Hunt told Morning Report a lot of effort is being put into ensuring there is no community transmission of swine flu, especially going into the winter flu season, and none has been seen yet.
Prime Minister John Key on Monday defended the speed with which authorities reacted to the swine flu outbreak.
There has been criticism that because New Zealand was one of the first countries to confirm cases of the disease, it had a disproportionate amount of international media coverage.
However, Mr Key says he does not think the country acted any more rapidly than it should have.
Listen to deputy director of public health on Morning Report
Airport measures stepped up

Health authorities dealing with swine flu are stepping up their efforts to gather information from international passengers arriving New Zealand airports.
Auckland International Airport, where planes from the United States land, had been the focus of public health efforts.
Passengers arriving on flights from North America had been asked to provide extra details, such as contact telephone numbers.
Now, international passengers arriving in Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown also have to fill out forms to say where they can be contacted in New Zealand.
The Ministry of Health says it is a precaution in case it is discovered that the disease has taken hold in other countries after the flights have arrived. It says passengers can then be contacted much quicker.
New Zealand authorities will screen all passengers who are flying out of the country to Niue for influenza-type symptoms, at the request of the island's government.
Mr Ryall says public health staff at Auckland International Airport will monitor the 110 or so passengers who catch the weekly flight to Niue. He says Niue's request follows a recent outbreak of influenza on the island.
'Minimal effect' on tourism

Tourism officials say the swine flu outbreak in New Zealand has had a minimal effect on the travel industry so far.
Air New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand say their $5 million campaign to attract Australians during the winter months has not been damaged.
Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton says Australians are still booking holidays and numbers from the United Kingdom and United States are holding up.
Mr Hickton says some school groups from Japan and China are the only ones showing signs of reluctance to travel to New Zealand.
But Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe says the country's reputation has been damaged by swine flu.
Mr Fyfe says New Zealand had a disproportionate amount of coverage on international news channels, because it was among the first countries after Mexico to confirm cases of the disease.
He told TVNZ's Q+A programme that will have damaged New Zealand's reputation as a tourist destination.
"I think bringing awareness of the fact that this was moving around the globe was very important," he said. "I'm just not sure we had to be the poster child for swine flu moving around the world."


http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/05/03/1245af4cb307

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 6 confirmed

Re: NZ 6 confirmed

New Zealand now has six confirmed cases of swine flu with a further 11 "probable" cases, health officials say.
In a statement today Dr Fran McGrath, Deputy Director of Public Health, said a further case had been confirmed following World Health Organisation testing in Melbourne.
The latest confirmed case is an Auckland student who travelled on Flight NZ01 from Los Angeles on April 25, the same flight as the Rangitoto College party.
He was treated with Tamiflu and is now well and out of isolation.
In addition there are 335 people in isolation or quarantine and being treated with Tamiflu – a fall of 25 since yesterday.
“These are people who have developed symptoms of influenza within seven days of having been in the areas of concern or are close contacts of cases that have flu-like symptoms,” Dr McGrath said.
There are also 69 suspected cases – down 20 (from 89) from yesterday.
Eighteen countries have officially reported 900 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, Dr McGrath said.
Mexico has reported 506 confirmed human cases of infection, including 19 deaths. The higher number of cases from Mexico in the past 48 hours reflects ongoing testing of previously collected specimens, Dr McGrath said. The United States Government has reported 226 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.
The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (85), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), France (2), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (3), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (4), Republic of Korea (1), Spain (40), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (18).
Meanwhile, the head of the World Health Organisation has hit back at critics who say the agency has over-reacted to the crisis.
WHO director-general Margaret Chan told the Financial Times that the end of the flu season in the northern hemisphere meant an initial outbreak could be mild, but there may be a second, more lethal outbreak. This occurred with the 1918 flu epidemic.
Mexico's Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said yesterday the "epidemic is now in its phase of descent."
He said the outbreak appeared to have peaked in Mexico between April 23 and 28. But Ms Chan warned that an apparent decline in mortality rates outside and within Mexico did not mean the pandemic was ending.
"We hope the virus fizzles out, because if it doesn't we are heading for a big outbreak."

But she said: "I'm not predicting the pandemic will blow up, but if I miss it and we don't prepare, I fail. I'd rather over-prepare than not prepare."
STUDENTS BACK AT SCHOOL
Meanwhile, most of the Lindisfarne College students, teachers and close contacts who were affected by the swine flu health alert will be able to return to normal activities tomorrow.
One student and the Hastings school's Matron - who had been caring for two boarders who were unable to go into home isolation - will remain in isolation for a further 72 hours or till the results of further tests are known.
Twenty-seven pupils and four teachers from Lindisfarne went into isolation last week after three of the boys developed symptoms following their return to New Zealand from North America on Tuesday.
The quarantining of the students - who were all in the school orchestra - had forced the postponement of the gala opening of the school's new auditorium and arts centre.
Mr Lander said the postponement was going to affect 300 invited guests, but he hoped they would understand the predicament the school was in.
The school hoped to reschedule the event to May 16.
All passengers entering New Zealand on international flights are now required to fill out detailed contact and location forms in case of further swine flu diagnoses.
Meanwhile, all quarantined pupils from Rangitoto College were expected back at school today.
Principal David Hodge said it was business as usual as far as he was concerned.
"We had a swine flu reunion on Saturday night at a Browns Bay cafe and all parents, teachers, and students were there and everyone's 'cured'."
- By ANNA CHALMERS, MARTY SHARPE and STACEY WOOD


http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=228089

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 6 confirmed

Re: NZ 6 confirmed

Swine-flu cases rise as two test positive

The Press Last updated 05:00 05/05/2009

DON SCOTT/The Press
STAYING SAFE: Andrew Male, left, and Jeff Telfer cover up at work at Christchurch consultancy firm MWH as New Zealand's confirmed swine-flu cases rise to six.
Relevant offers


<!-- Begin relevant offers adspace--> <script>add_batch_ad('adRELEVANTOFFER1', '240x45_SPECIALOFFER','RELEVANTOFFER1');</script>


<!-- -normal_story_landing- --> New Zealand now has six confirmed swine flu cases, with pupils from Auckland and Hawke's Bay the latest to test positive for the virus.



An Auckland pupil, who was on the same flight from the United States as a group from Rangitoto College, had been treated with the antiviral drug Tamiflu and was now out of isolation, the Ministry of Health said.
The original four confirmed cases were from the Rangitoto College party which had been to Mexico before returning home on April 25 on a flight via Los Angeles.


One of the new confirmed cases was a student from Hawke's Bay who returned to New Zealand on April 28 from North America on a Lindisfarne College school trip.


Two Nelson-based passengers on the same flight, NZ7, went into voluntary quarantine over the weekend after coming into contact with that passenger. The pair were identified by Nelson-Marlborough Public Health staff on Sunday, district medical officer of health Dr Jill Sherwood said.


None of the 32 suspected swine-flu cases in the Nelson-Marlborough region last week had tested positive for the flu.


Meanwhile, eight people were in voluntary quarantine in Otago and Southland after being referred to health officials over the weekend.



They all flew on flight NZ1 from Los Angeles to Auckland last Wednesday. It was feared they were in contact with a fellow passenger suspected of having Influenza A (H1N1).


Duty medical officer of health Dr Marion Poore said the eight had been referred to Public Health South over the weekend, although none was showing flu-like symptoms. Their quarantine period expires today.


No-one in Canterbury had tested positive for the virus, although seven people were in quarantine, health officials said yesterday.


Both of the latest confirmed New Zealand cases were previously classed as probable cases, and samples were sent to Melbourne for testing, deputy director of public health Fran McGrath said.


The Auckland pupil was now well, but the Hawke's Bay pupil was still under observation. "The confirmed case remains in isolation at home and is being treated with Tamiflu, as is the rest of the family. Other close contacts have also been treated and followed up," McGrath said.
As of yesterday, there were 69 suspected cases in New Zealand, down 20 from Sunday's total, and 335 people in isolation who were being treated with Tamiflu, down by 25 since Sunday.


Worldwide, 18 countries had reported 900 cases of swine flu.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/swine-flu/2383923/Swine-flu-cases-rise-as-two-test-positive

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 6 confirmed

Re: NZ 6 confirmed

Three new probable swine flu cases detected

<!-- UID: 8a37732f13bc499a6c1f1609afa56cc013df2ba6 AID: 1936543 C: 2009-05-05 05:14:14 U: 2009-05-05 17:22:12 P: 2009-05-05 19:53:48 --> Updated at 5:22pm on 5 May 2009
Health authorities say they discovered three new cases of probable swine flu on Tuesday as they maintain efforts to limit the spread of the virus.
New Zealand now has six confirmed cases of the flu, 15 probable cases and 92 suspected ones.
A group of six passengers who arrived in Auckland on Tuesday morning on a Qantas flight from Los Angeles, have joined the tally of suspected cases.
The Health Ministry says the six, and 16 close contacts of the group, are being treated in isolation in Auckland.
The Ministry says there's still no evidence of swine flu spreading to people who have not travelled to the affected areas or been in close contact with someone who has.
Hawke's Bay students back at school

Thirteen students from Lindisfarne College in Hastings returned to school on Tuesday, after being in isolation for suspected swine flu.
A further 38 people in Hawke's Bay are still in isolation, with one case confirmed.
Lindisfarne College rector Grant Landers says five more students will return to school on Wednesday and a further two on Thursday.


http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/05/05/1245af6abd16

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 6 confirmed

Re: NZ 6 confirmed

Qantas passengers put in isolation

By ANNA CHALMERS - Stuff.co.nz Last updated 17:52 05/05/2009


Relevant offers

Health officials are still working to contact passengers on four US flights where passengers have been confirmed or are suspected of having swine flu.
Over the past 10 days since the flu outbreak, health board officials have worked to track passengers on five flights. Health Ministry information released to Stuff.co.nz show these are:
* Air New Zealand NZ1 from LA on 25 April (no longer active as more than seven days has passed, therefore no infection risk).
* Air New Zealand NZ7 from San Francisco on 26 April
* Air New Zealand NZ1 on 28 April – (Lindisfarne pupil diagnosed yesterday)
* Qantas Flight QF26 from LA on 30 April
* Qantas Flight QF26 from LA, (landed this morning with 22 passengers already in isolation).
Dr Fran McGrath, Deputy Director of Public Health said on the aircrafts involved, typically 747s, contact tracing involved tracking down around 50 people.
In early flights, including NZ1 on April 25 carrying the infected Rangitoto College pupils, attempts were made to contact every passenger on the flight.
But Dr McGrath said efforts are now focused on contacting those passengers sitting close to the case, including those in the infected row, the two rows in front and two behind the suspected swine flu case. “Each suspected case may also have an estimated three household contacts, she said”
Twenty two passengers who arrived from Los Angeles this morning are being treated in isolation for suspected swine flu.
A group of six passengers who arrived at Auckland on flight QF26 from Los Angeles this morning had been assessed as "suspected" swine flu cases, Dr McGrath said this afternoon.
They and their 16 close contacts are being treated in isolation in Auckland, she said.
The number of confirmed swine flu cases remain unchanged at six, while the number of probable cases has risen to 16 – one extra.
There are 92 suspected cases with 309 people in isolation or quarantine and being treated with the anti-viral drug Tamiflu.

"We are continuing to maintain our emphasis on limiting the spread," Dr McGrath said.
According to the World Health Organisation 21 countries have officially reported 1085 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.
Mexico has reported 590 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 25 deaths. The United States has reported 286 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.
The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (101), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Colombia (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (4), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (4), Italy (2), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (6), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (1), Spain (54), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (18).


http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/swine-flu/2386524/Qantas-passengers-put-in-isolation

 

[kiwibird]

Re: NZ 6 confirmed

Re: NZ 6 confirmed

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/swine-flu/2390143/Swine-flu-caution-the-right-strategy
Swine flu caution 'the right strategy'
By REBECCA PALMER - The Dominion Post
Last updated 05:00 07/05/2009
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CRAIG SIMCOX/The Dominion Post
NO HANDSHAKES PLEASE: Health Minister Tony Ryall waves to staff at the WHO national influenza centre in Upper Hutt yesterday.


Health officials have defended their cautious response to the swine flu threat, saying it has prevented the virus from spreading.

Environmental Science and Research virologist Sue Huang, head of the WHO national influenza centre in Upper Hutt, said yesterday the Government's response had been "the right strategy".

Its emphasis on containing travellers suspected of having the virus had meant no cases of community transmission had been identified yet. "At the moment we can contain this outbreak."

Isolating people prevented the virus mixing with a seasonal flu and mutating, she said. "If we can prevent that happening, we may be able to prevent our worst nightmare."

Swine flu cases had been mild so far, but it was a "novel virus", she said. "It's different, it's really different, from our normal seasonal virus. We don't want them to mix together."

Dr Huang said the first wave of cases in the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic had been "quite mild" but was followed by a more serious wave. She could not predict what would happen with swine flu, despite working with influenza viruses for years. "Influenza virus is notoriously difficult to predict and it changes very fast."

Health Minister Tony Ryall, who visited the centre yesterday, said the Government's focus was still on containment. "We have to be cautious and concerned, but not alarmed."

The fact that health officials overseas had said swine flu was similar to seasonal flu was "not reason for us not to continue the efforts".

United States health authorities have changed their advice to schools with suspected cases of swine flu, saying the virus has turned out to be milder than initially feared.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention had advised schools to close for about two weeks if there were any suspected cases. It has now said parents should keep sick children at home for a week.

New Zealand's director of public health, Fran McGrath, yesterday defended the Health Ministry's policy of placing people suspected of having swine flu in isolation for three days or more.

Figures released yesterday recorded 358 people in isolation or quarantine and being treated with Tamiflu. There were 84 suspected swine flu cases and 14 probable cases.

The number of confirmed cases dropped from six to five.

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 6 confirmed

Re: NZ 6 confirmed

Changing title to reflect this drop

* Five* confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1)

*One of the six cases reported as confirmed on Monday 4 May was confirmed prematurely before the final DNA sequencing was carried out. The result of final testing for Influenza A (H1N1) for this case is expected to be known late today. The change in numbers reported has no impact on the individual concerned as they have already completed treatment.

As soon as this was picked up, an additional check was put in place to improve the quality of reporting, by having ESR verify all newly confirmed cases since they are doing the final sequencing tests.

 

[kiwibird]

Re: NZ 7 confirmed

Re: NZ 7 confirmed

http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/influenza-a-h1n1-update-thirty-one-090509
Media Release
3:00pm,
9 May 2009
Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu - Update Thirty-One

New Zealand situation - updated numbers
The number of confirmed and probable cases reported to the Ministry of Health as at 3:00pm today are:

* Seven confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) ? this is up two from yesterday as two of the Rangitoto College group who were previously considered probable have now been laboratory confirmed. They have already been isolated and treated with Tamiflu, and are now well.
* 12 probable cases ? this is down two from yesterday because the two cases have moved from probable to confirmed.

As at 3:00pm today, the number of suspected cases and people in isolation and being treated, as advised to the Ministry of Health, are:
62 suspected cases - (down from 75 yesterday.)

The latest figures indicate 158 people in isolation or quarantine and being treated with Tamiflu, down from 278 yesterday.

Numbers of suspected cases, and those receiving treatment and in isolation, will fluctuate when more suspected cases are found, or suspected cases are ruled out.

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 7 confirmed

Re: NZ 7 confirmed

New Zealand confirms 2 Influenza A/H1N1 cases, total number rises to 9
www.chinaview.cn 2009-05-15 13:40:36

WELLINGTON, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed Influenza A/H1N1 cases in New Zealand rose by two, the Health Ministry said on Friday.

Laboratory tests confirmed two cases, previously classed as probable, were Influenza A/H1N1, bringing New Zealand's total number of confirmed cases to nine, the Health Ministry said.

The two cases included an Auckland college student who had returned from Mexico and another passenger from the same flight.

The confirmation of the two brings the total number of probable cases down to 10. All the people with confirmed cases, including the two on Friday, and probable cases had been treated and had fully recovered, the ministry said.

Forty others were classed as having a suspected case of the flu.

There were still nine people in isolation and being treated with Tamiflu, the ministry said.

The number of people in isolation peaked above 400, and has been steadily dropping as people complete 72 hours of the five-day course of Tamiflu.

The flu alert was first sparked in New Zealand when the party of Auckland college students returned from Mexico via Los Angeles on April 25.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/15/content_11378630.htm

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 9 confirmed

Re: NZ 9 confirmed

One new confirmed A/H1N1 case reported in New Zealand
2009-06-02

WELLINGTON, June 2 (Xinhua) -- A child on a recent flight from North America has Influenza A/H1N1, bringing the number of confirmed cases in New Zealand to 10, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

The child arrived in Auckland on Air New Zealand flight NZ1 on Sunday.

Ministry of Health director of public health Mark Jacobs said on Tuesday this was the first new case of Influenza A/H1N1 since May 15.

The child was at home in isolation and was being treated with Tamiflu, Jacobs said.

Health officials were contacting passengers on the flight.

Jacobs said there were also 10 probable cases of Influenza A/H1N1 and 27 suspected cases, down three since Friday.　

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/02/content_11474679.htm

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 10 cases confirmed

Re: NZ 10 cases confirmed

Six new suspected cases of swine flu are being investigated by Hawke's Bay District Health Board.

The six people recently returned from overseas. They and have been isolated and given the drug Tamiflu.

Health officials are now trying to trace people who may have come in contact with them.

Two other people, who returned to Hawke's Bay following a cruise, are being monitored.

There are 10 confirmed cases of swine flu in New Zealand.

The latest case was a child who had returned from North America on an Air New Zealand flight on Sunday.

The Ministry of Health says the child, whose age is not disclosed, is in isolation and being treated.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/06/03/1245b54422a8

 

[Sally Furniss]

New Zealander on board a cruise ship, due to dock in Auckland tomorrow, has tested positive for influenza A.

New Zealander on board a cruise ship, due to dock in Auckland tomorrow, has tested positive for influenza A.

NZer on cruise ship tests positive for influenza A
Wed, 03 Jun 2009 8:52p.m.

A New Zealander on board a cruise ship, due to dock in Auckland tomorrow, has tested positive for influenza A.

The woman joined the P&O cruise ship Pacific Sun in Brisbane on May 27, and three days later developed flu-like symptoms, the Northern Region Health Coordination Centre said in a statement.

The woman was put in isolation along with her family members.

She was swabbed for influenza on board the ship and a rapid-result test showed she had influenza type A.

The woman was now symptom free, but would be retested in Auckland to make sure she did not have influenza A (H1N1) swine flu, the centre said.

The cruise ship is due to dock tomorrow in Auckland at 7am.

Nine other people on board the ship - six passengers and three crew - showed respiratory illness symptoms and were tested for influenza A but did not have it.

The ship's other passengers would be required to fill out locator forms and would be given information on what to do if they did develop flu-like symptoms, the centre said.

The woman and her close contacts, a group of about 12, would go to their homes and stay in quarantine for a period to be determined by public health officials.

Auckland Regional Public Health clinical director Julia Peters said the ship's medical staff had acted properly throughout the cruise.

"We think the way they have managed this situation has been extremely responsible, and that makes our job easier."

New Zealand port health officials were put on "high alert" last week after the Pacific Sun company's Pacific Dawn cruise liner - with 2500 passengers on board - was refused permission to dock and ordered to change course off the coast of Australia because three crew members had come down with swine flu.

The ship had earlier discharged passengers in Sydney, including at least two children with swine flu, and it was feared that other passengers who left the ship there had accelerated community transmission of the illness in other parts of Australia.

Ministry of Health deputy director of public health Dr Fran McGrath said all ships were required to report people on board with influenza symptoms.

"All ships are required to notify any suspected cases of non-seasonal influenza A (H1N1) swine flu, which have occurred during the voyage," Dr McGrath said.

Meanwhile, health authorities concerned that swine flu awareness is in decline, are launching an advertising campaign warning people the problem has not gone away.

Newspapers, radio, airport posters and billboards will remind people swine flu is here to stay, with Australia now awash with it, and just a short plane trip away.

While New Zealand numbers had remained stable, health officials told NZPA they expected that to change, as numbers affected in Australia increased four-fold over the weekend.

New Zealand has had only 10 confirmed cases - none fatal.

A child who arrived in Auckland from North America on Sunday on Air New Zealand flight NZ1 yesterday became the first new case since May 15.

The child was at home in isolation and was being treated with Tamiflu, Ministry of Health director of public health Mark Jacobs said. Officials were contacting other passengers.

http://www.3news.co.nz/News/NZer-on...rticleID/107084/Default.aspx?ArticleID=107084