South Auckland swine flu scare

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Health officials were last night scrambling to test swabs from 11 people who may have caught swine flu from a South Auckland boy.

The one-year-old was last night the only confirmed case in New Zealand, but one other person yesterday tested positive for Influenza A, meaning they had probably contracted swine flu.

Further tests would confirm whether the influenza was the H1N1, or swine flu, strain.

Officials have focused on the seven staff members and families of 37 children enrolled at the boy's childcare centre, Tama Ale Eleele A'oga Amata in Papatoetoe.

Anyone with flu-like symptoms was given Tamiflu and isolated.

This case reinforces Ministry of Health warnings in a letter sent to parents via schools and early childhood centres last week.

It said outbreaks here were a matter of when, not if, as there were "clear signs" of the early stages of a pandemic.

Schools and early childhood centres in affected areas would be suddenly closed for at least seven days, as the disease was readily spread by children.

- © Fairfax NZ News