Swine flu cloud hangs over 66

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   Swine flu cloud hangs over 66 

Contact has been made with all but 18 passengers on a flight with a group which returned from Mexico , but a swine flu cloud now hangs over 66 people in New Zealand .
Ten of those people are from a Rangitoto College group which landed in Auckland on Saturday and have since tested positive for influenza A. They now await test results for the potentially lethal swine flu.
Julia Peters, from the Auckland Public Health Service, said results were not expected until late in the week.
She admitted at a media conference today that samples were only sent to a specialist lab in Melbourne yesterday, as opposed to the weekend, but said they had needed special preparation and packaging.
Ms Peters said the Melbourne lab had promised high priority in analysing the samples.
Another 56 people around the country have been tested for influenza A after having returned from Mexico or the United States in the last fortnight and showing flu-like symptoms.
They have been offered Tamiflu and asked to stay home while they await test results. Three others from a Northcote College group who also returned on Saturday from a trip to Mexico have tested negative for the flu.
Ministry of Health officials said this morning the 18 people who hadn't been traced from Air New Zealand flight NZ1, which included the Rangitoto group, would be difficult to find as they may be transient passengers.
Passengers on flight NZ5, which had the Northcote College group , were initially being traced, but the urgency has been mitigated by the negative tests.
Health Minister Tony Ryall said today they were now in the same category as anyone who had returned from Mexico or the United States in the last fortnight.
They should be vigilant about contacting their GP if flu-like symptoms occurred and would be offered Tamiflu.
Other New Zealanders needed to respond to flu-like symptoms as they always had.
"It's a time for caution and concern, but not alarm," Mr Ryall said.
Public Health director Mark Jacobs said it was likely there was an increased rush of people getting checked for flu symptoms.
He said it was the time of the year when common cold and flu viruses struck and urged the public not to panic if there was no reason to suspect anything worse.
Meanwhile, health personnel continued to screen passengers arriving in Auckland who had been in either Mexico or the United States.
The swine flu virus has killed close to 150 people in Mexico and infected dozens in the United States, Canada and Europe.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) today raised its pandemic alert level to phase 4, indicating a significant increased risk of a pandemic, a global outbreak of a serious disease.
Prime Minister John Key said the increased rating showed an "increased possibility of a pandemic but it's not a forgone conclusion by any stretch of the imagination".
"From New Zealand's point of view I think we've got a good plan, we're administering that.
"I'm confident that we are doing everything we can."
Opposition leader Phil Goff agreed the situation was generally being handled well here.
"This is potentially a very serious situation for New Zealand and New Zealanders ... but there were contingency plans there, there was training to implement them, there is the Tamiflu available.
"All of those things are absolutely essential."
While swine flu cases have been identified in Mexico and US states, WHO and other health authorities are yet to recommend against travelling to those areas.
New Zealand's Health Ministry said it was closely following WHO advice.

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Midas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Adviser Group Joined: September 05 2006 Status: Offline Points: 295	Post Options Post Reply Quote Midas Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Swine flu cloud hangs over 66 Posted: April 27 2009 at 5:21pm
	Swine flu cloud hangs over 66 Contact has been made with all but 18 passengers on a flight with a group which returned from Mexico , but a swine flu cloud now hangs over 66 people in New Zealand . Ten of those people are from a Rangitoto College group which landed in Auckland on Saturday and have since tested positive for influenza A. They now await test results for the potentially lethal swine flu. Julia Peters, from the Auckland Public Health Service, said results were not expected until late in the week. She admitted at a media conference today that samples were only sent to a specialist lab in Melbourne yesterday, as opposed to the weekend, but said they had needed special preparation and packaging. Ms Peters said the Melbourne lab had promised high priority in analysing the samples. Another 56 people around the country have been tested for influenza A after having returned from Mexico or the United States in the last fortnight and showing flu-like symptoms. They have been offered Tamiflu and asked to stay home while they await test results. Three others from a Northcote College group who also returned on Saturday from a trip to Mexico have tested negative for the flu. Ministry of Health officials said this morning the 18 people who hadn't been traced from Air New Zealand flight NZ1, which included the Rangitoto group, would be difficult to find as they may be transient passengers. Passengers on flight NZ5, which had the Northcote College group , were initially being traced, but the urgency has been mitigated by the negative tests. Health Minister Tony Ryall said today they were now in the same category as anyone who had returned from Mexico or the United States in the last fortnight. They should be vigilant about contacting their GP if flu-like symptoms occurred and would be offered Tamiflu. Other New Zealanders needed to respond to flu-like symptoms as they always had. "It's a time for caution and concern, but not alarm," Mr Ryall said. Public Health director Mark Jacobs said it was likely there was an increased rush of people getting checked for flu symptoms. He said it was the time of the year when common cold and flu viruses struck and urged the public not to panic if there was no reason to suspect anything worse. Meanwhile, health personnel continued to screen passengers arriving in Auckland who had been in either Mexico or the United States. The swine flu virus has killed close to 150 people in Mexico and infected dozens in the United States, Canada and Europe. The World Health Organisation (WHO) today raised its pandemic alert level to phase 4, indicating a significant increased risk of a pandemic, a global outbreak of a serious disease. Prime Minister John Key said the increased rating showed an "increased possibility of a pandemic but it's not a forgone conclusion by any stretch of the imagination". "From New Zealand's point of view I think we've got a good plan, we're administering that. "I'm confident that we are doing everything we can." Opposition leader Phil Goff agreed the situation was generally being handled well here. "This is potentially a very serious situation for New Zealand and New Zealanders ... but there were contingency plans there, there was training to implement them, there is the Tamiflu available. "All of those things are absolutely essential." While swine flu cases have been identified in Mexico and US states, WHO and other health authorities are yet to recommend against travelling to those areas. New Zealand's Health Ministry said it was closely following WHO advice.