Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu - Update Forty-One

New Zealand situation

There has been no change to the numbers of confirmed, probable and suspected cases of Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu in the past 24 hours in New Zealand.

The number of confirmed and probable cases reported to the Ministry of Health up to 3pm today are:

Nine confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) – (unchanged since yesterday).
10 probable cases – (unchanged since yesterday).
All confirmed and probable cases have been treated and have fully recovered.

38 suspected cases – (unchanged since yesterday).
Numbers of suspected cases fluctuate as more people with symptoms arriving from affected areas are assessed (treated and isolated), and as laboratory testing rules out some suspected cases.

No new figures are available for today for the number of people in isolation or quarantine and being treated with Tamiflu. (As of Friday there were nine) The numbers of people in isolation vary according to when they complete 72 hours of the five-day course of Tamiflu.

International Update from the World Health Organization

16 May 2009 -- As of 07:00 GMT, 16 May 2009, 36 countries have officially reported 8451 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection. This is an increase of 931 since yesterday.

Mexico has reported 2895 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 66 deaths. The United States has reported 4714 laboratory confirmed human cases, including four deaths. Canada has reported 496 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death. Costa Rica has reported nine laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Argentina (1), Australia (1), Austria (1), Belgium (2), Brazil (8), China (4), Colombia (11), Cuba (3), Denmark (1), Ecuador (1), El Salvador (4), Finland (2), France (14), Germany (14), Guatemala (3), Ireland (1), Israel (7), Italy (9), Japan (4), Netherlands (3), New Zealand (9), Norway (2), Panama (43), Peru (1), Poland (1), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (3), Spain (100), Sweden (2), Switzerland (1), Thailand (2), and the United Kingdom (78).

WHO is not recommending travel restrictions related to the outbreak of the influenza A(H1N1) virus.

The WHO recommends that individuals who are ill should delay travel plans and returning travelers who fall ill should seek appropriate medical care. These recommendations are prudent measures which can limit the spread of many communicable diseases, including influenza.

Regular updates on the Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak are available on the WHO website on a regular basis (www.who.int).

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