Confirmed swine flu cases nearly 100

Swine flu cases double over weekend

The number of confirmed swine flu cases has risen to nearly 100 after 28 cases were confirmed in 24 hours.

The number of confirmed swine flu cases reached 99 tonight with the confirmation of 13 more cases in Canterbury.

It follows a further 15 cases announced earlier today.

The Canterbury District Health Board said all cases of the influenza A (H1N1) strain - now totalling 31 - stemmed from a single case who had been in Victoria, Australia in early June.

The cases, including six pupils from three schools in Christchurch's eastern suburbs, were all being treated with Tamiflu and all contacts of those affected were being traced.

Earlier today an Auckland primary school closed as health officials said they remained focused on containment.

There were still relatively few cases and only isolated instances of community transmission, health officials said.

"New Zealand is still in the containment phase,'' deputy director of public health Fran McGrath said.

"This is the reason that New Zealand has relatively few cases.

"At this time there remains a combination of border management (keep it out) and cluster control (stamp it out).''

The number was expected to further rise and the Ministry of Health was going to step up its public information campaign about flu prevention, Health Minister Tony Ryall said at a press conference.

"What we're seeing around the world is that there's a rapid transfer in young people," he said.

"The strategy remains containment. We want to delay the major impact of swine flu beyond the normal winter cycle."

Mr Ryall said there were normally about 31,000 hospital admissions a month during winter and health officials thought there could be another 4000.

Earlier today police said that a second police recruit - a 30-year-old woman - from the same wing as the person who was confirmed as infected yesterday, has been in isolation at the Police College in Porirua and is recovering well.

The college yesterday postponed new training courses due to start this week in a bid to minimise the number of people exposed.

Police national manager of training Superintendent Mike Wilson said the move was part of the nationwide effort to try to minimise the spread of the virus.

"We've had instances of whooping cough and norovirus in the past which present similar challenges and my team are very professional in the way they are handling this and providing any ongoing support to our staff who are understandably worried too."

Staff were working with Public Health to identify any other recruits who may have flu-like symptoms or had direct contact with the sick recruits, he said.

Approximately 50 people had been placed in isolation.

Mr Ryall confirmed yesterday that Capital and Coast District Health Board had set up one of New Zealand's first swine flu assessment centres at Wellington Hospital. Other district health boards were likely to follow.

"It diverts people away who may have flu symptoms from hospital and emergency departments and GP clinics."

The number of confirmed nationwide swine flu cases doubled over the weekend, from 35 on Friday to 71. Meanwhile, the UK has reported its first death from swine flu.

Darren Hunt, the Health Ministry's deputy director of public health, said the weekend's rise signalled a new phase of the pandemic and the number of cases was expected to rise steeply.

The ministry has moved its response to phase six, one of the highest health alert levels, opening the door for radical measures including the declaration of a national state of emergency. Restrictions could be placed on public gatherings, including sports events. During the Mexican outbreak, big football matches were played in empty stadiums.

There were no plans to cancel Saturday's second rugby test between the All Blacks and France, Dr Hunt said. However, anyone with flu symptoms should stay away. "It's a prime opportunity for coughing and sneezing over a lot of people."

Wellington City Council will outline plans today to deal with the growing number of cases. Mayor Kerry Prendergast said options included closing buildings where large crowds gathered, such as libraries and swimming pools. "We are a long way from that, but you have to have these plans in place.

"Senior council managers have been working out how we will cope if Wellington is greatly affected by swine flu."

Challenges included keeping essential services such as water supply and sewerage systems going if large numbers of people are off sick or stuck at home.

Mr Ryall said that, although New Zealand's swine flu cases had been mild and most people recovered at home, there was still potential for it to swamp hospitals and clinics.

"If swine flu takes hold as is expected, that means a whole lot more people have flu, which means a whole lot more people might be turning up at emergency departments and GP clinics. Every day that we can delay it is another day that we might not grind the health system to a halt."

Swine flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also have diarrhoea and vomiting.

Seventy-four countries have reported 29,669 cases and 145 deaths. Up to 30 per cent of the population might eventually contract swine flu, Dr Hunt said.

WEEKEND DEVELOPMENTS:

Swine flu cases doubled over the weekend, from 35 on Friday, to 71 yesterday. It is now spreading in the community, and not just among people who have travelled overseas.

In Wellington, 12 new cases were reported, including a recruit at the Police College in Porirua. Other recruits were being treated with Tamiflu and isolated.

The Health Ministry moved its response to phase six, opening the door for radical measures such as declaring a national state of emergency.

Tamiflu given to 50 pupils at Burnside High School, Christchurch, after a 13-year-old confirmed with swine flu.

Year 12s at Auckland's Westlake Girls' High School told to stay home after a fellow pupil is diagnosed.

Australia has 1458 cases, with more than 1100 in Victoria.

Health officials are also stressing the need for people who suspect they have flu to seek medical advice over the phone. Call Healthline 0800 611 116.

OFFICIALS HANDLING OUTBREAK WELL - PM

Prime Minister John Key today praised the actions of health officials in dealing with swine flu and emphasised the importance of people staying home if they have symptoms.

Mr Key said this morning the health ministry had done a "tremendous job" coping with swine flu so far, though it may have to change tack slightly because of the community spread.

"The containment has been a lot better in this country than in others," he told TVNZ.

The messages the department were putting out were the right ones to help contain the spread, he said.

"We don't have immunity and at one level it's reasonably easy to spread," he said.

". . .If you're not feeling well stay home, cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze, wash your hands regularly."

-By MICHAEL FOX, TRACY WATKINS and PAUL EASTON