Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu - 1.30pm, 14 June 2009

We continue to see an increase in case numbers for influenza A (H1N1) swine flu in New Zealand, some without any link to travel. This signals community spread is taking place in some areas. Although confirmed case numbers are still relatively low, they are steadily rising. This is a situation that we have expected.

For most people who have this virus, their illness will be mild to moderate, although unpleasant. If you have mild symptoms, be prepared to look after yourself at home. People who are sick should stay away from work and school.

Some people will have a more serious illness, and are at risk of complications. If you need medical advice, please phone Healthline 0800 611 116 in the first instance, or your GP. Phoning ahead will help health services plan ahead if you are infectious, and help protect other patients.

Also, please be aware hospitals and other health services are very busy at this time of the year, and will be increasingly busy as we see spread of this new flu virus. People who need treatment at emergency departments may need to wait, depending on their symptoms.

In terms of our pandemic planning and actions, we are very much now in a transition phase. Some areas in New Zealand will remain highly focussed on preventing community spread, whereas others will start to move into “protect” or “management” mode, where the focus is on reducing the impact on our communities and health system. Part of this will be individuals looking after themselves at home where possible.

The numbers

The cumulative total of confirmed cases in New Zealand is now 55 up from 43 yesterday. The cumulative total of probable cases is 20 up from 18 yesterday.

There are 12 new confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) today. They are:

One case in Nelson region
69 year old female, travelled from Australia
Four cases in Wellington
No details
33 year old male, no recent travel or contacts that travelled
27-year-old woman
22-year-old man
Seven cases in Christchurch
Two year old girl, attends Tino E Tasi Preschool with other cases
Four year old girl, attends preschool with other cases
Three year old boy, attends preschool with other cases
Four year old girl, attends preschool with other cases
Four year old boy, attends preschool with other cases
40 year old woman, contact of preschool cases
29 year old male, recently travelled from South America
Plus:

Three cases in Auckland included in the cumulative total but not in yesterday's regional breakdown
39 year old male, who travelled from Australia
13 month old boy, contact of case from ABC learning centre
16 year old female, no recent travel or contacts that travelled
Further details about these cases are not available at this time.

All the new cases are being treated with Tamiflu. Close contacts of the new confirmed cases are being traced and will be treated with Tamiflu and asked to stay in isolation at home.

How to protect yourself and others

Signs and symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also experience diarrhoea and vomiting.
Sick people should stay home until they are well, rather than going to school or work. Try to avoid contact with sick people and reduce time spent in crowded settings. If you become sick, stay home for seven days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep you from infecting others. Most people will be able to safely recover at home.
You should seek medical advice if necessary (by phone first), for example if your condition worsens. This is particularly important for people with underlying medical conditions who are at greater risk of developing complications from influenza. If you need medical advice, please phone Healthline 0800 611 116 in the first instance, or your GP. Do not turn up at a hospital or medical centre before doing this as you can spread germs to other people.
If you are caring for someone with the flu, watch for signs that they may need further medical attention, including: difficulty breathing, chest pain, blueness around the lips, inability to keep fluids down, becoming less alert or developing confusion. More information can be found on the Victorian Health website and Centre for Disease Control website.
Be prepared - This is the time for people to make sure they’re prepared to be self-sufficient for an extended period of time, should they need to. This means you should have enough food water and basic medical supplies including paracetamol or ibuprofen, as well as regular medications, nappies for babies, cleaning products, tissues and bathroom supplies for at least a week.
Hand hygiene is still the single most effective measure in protecting yourself. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them thoroughly.
Alcohol-based cleaners are also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs spread this way.
Practise good cough and sneeze etiquette. This means covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and disposing of the tissue in a lined rubbish bin with a lid or plastic bag.
Checklists and advice on how individuals and families can prepare for a pandemic.

International Update from the World Health Organization

On Friday, WHO announced a pandemic phase 6 - the highest phase - which means there is global spread of the virus, but it does not mean the disease is severe.

There has been no further update from WHO since yesterday's report that as of 07:00 GMT, 12 June 2009, 74 countries have officially reported 29,669 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 145 deaths.

The breakdown of the number of laboratory-confirmed cases by country is available on the WHO website.

As at 6pm AEST on 13 June, the number of confirmed cases in Australia was 1441, with 1011 of these cases in Victoria.

Updates on the Influenza A (H1N1) 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.

For further information, please contact Ministry of Health National Health Coordination Centre, Communications Desk
+64 (04) 816 3660 or +64 (021) 243 6805

For specific health advice the public should call Healthline 0800 611 116