Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu - Update 11.00am, Friday 8 May 2009

The number of confirmed and probable cases reported to the Ministry of Health as at 10.00am today are:

• Five confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) - no change since yesterday.
• 14 probable cases - no change since yesterday.

As at 10:00am today, the number of suspected cases and people in isolation and being treated, as advised to the Ministry of Health are:

• 75 suspected cases (This is down from 76 yesterday.)
• The latest figures show 459 people in isolation or quarantine and being treated with Tamiflu, down from 464 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.

International update from the World Health Organization

As of 1800 GMT, 7 May 2009, 24 countries have officially reported 2371 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.

Mexico has reported 1112 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 42 deaths. The United States has reported 896 laboratory confirmed human cases, including two deaths.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (201), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (5), Germany (10), Guatemala (1), Ireland (1), Israel (6), Italy (5), Netherlands (2), New Zealand (5), Poland (1), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (3), Spain (81), Sweden (1), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (32).

Regular updates on the Influenza A (H1N1) swine flu outbreak are available on the WHO website on a regular basis.

This information can be attributed to Dr Darren Hunt, Deputy Director of Public Health.

ENDS

For further information, please please call the Ministry of Health National Health Coordination Committee Communications Desk +64 (04) 816 3660