Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu - Update Seventy-five

If you need medical advice, phone Healthline 0800 611 116

New Zealand situation
Further results have been received from laboratories today showing the number of confirmed cases has grown to 71 (from 55 earlier today) and year 12 students at Auckland’s Westlake Girls High School have been told to stay home from school for a week.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says there is no reason for alarm and that more cases are to be expected. "We are working to contain the spread as much as possible. This is a rapidly changing situation with cases increasing exponentially both here and in many states of Australia."

Deputy Director of Public Health Dr Darren Hunt says “According to our experience in New Zealand and confirmed by the World Health Organization, for most people this flu is mild and they recover quickly at home without having to visit their doctor.

“By containing the swine flu as long as possible it gives our GPs and hospitals more chance to deal with normal seasonal flu and the normal winter workload.

He warns that for some this disease will be serious and they should seek advice either from Healthline 0800 611 116 or their GP - but phone ahead first.

Also, people who go to busy hospital Emergency Departments may face delays as people who are more sick are treated first.

The numbers
Since the update released earlier today, another 16 cases have been reported. There are 13 new cases in Auckland and three in Wellington.

One of the previously confirmed (earlier today) Auckland cases is a year 12 student at Westlake Girls High School. There are 10 others at the school with flu-like symptoms but who are not included in the current confirmed case numbers but are suspected of having the disease.

As a precaution, all year 12 students from the school are being advised to stay home for the week. Those with symptoms will be treated with Tamiflu.

No further details on the other cases are available at this point.

Travellers
The Ministry has again refined advice to international travellers arriving in New Zealand. Better information about the incubation period of the disease means that only people with flu-like symptoms within four days of travel are now considered to be suspect cases of influenza A (H1N1).

Initially the Ministry advised that any travellers who became sick within a fortnight should be treated as suspicious for influenza A (H1N1); this was subsequently changed to seven days and this has now been further modified to four days.

How to protect yourself and others
There is detailed advice in the earlier update today on the steps people can take to protect themselves. In summary, if you are sick stay home from school or work; cover coughs and sneezes, and thoroughly wash and dry hands.

Unless where otherwise specified; 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