Significant jump in swine flu cases

More than 70 cases confirmed

All year 12 students from Auckland's Westlake Girls High School have the week off school as the number of swine flu cases soared this evening.

Confirmed cases increased to 71 tonight - a 65 percent jump in just 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said. Included were five children from a Christchurch preschool and a police recruit.

Also among those confirmed as infected was a year 12 Westlake student. A further 10 students at the school were suspected of having swine flu.

"As a precaution, all year 12 students from the school are being advised to stay home for the week,'' the ministry said.

Health Minister Tony Ryall said there was no need for alarm, and that more cases should be expected nationwide.

"We are working to contain the spread as much as possible."

It was likely there would be further partial or full school closures, he warned.

Those who believed they had the flu - swine or seasonal - could do their bit to slow the spread by being sensible; anyone with symptoms should not go to school or work, and nor should they just turn up at a medical centre.

"I don't think your work mates or your school mates would be happy if you're spreading it around," Mr Ryall said.

"(And) you don't want to put people with flu symptoms in with a whole lot of other people turning up at GP clinics.

"You can imagine what it would be like if everyone with flu symptoms turned up at the hospital.''

A group of 41 tourists in Hokitika had also been quarantined following concerns they had contracted swine flu.

Meanwhile all new police training courses at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua, north of Wellington, next week have also been postponed.

Police national manager of training Superintendent Mike Wilson said the infected recruit had been isolated, treated with Tamiflu and was recovering well.

Health officials were also hammering home the need for people who suspect they have the flu to seek medical advice over the phone.

Included are the first cases confirmed in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes District Health Board region; a 15-month-old American boy holidaying with his family and a Tauranga teenager.

Both went to medical centres while displaying symptoms, the Tauranga teen to her GP and the toddler to the Taupo Hospital emergency department (ED).

Medical Officer of Health Phil Shoemack said he was not sure if the teenager or the toddler's family had phoned before visiting the GP and ED respectively but reiterated the need for people to do so.

"If you suspect you or your family member has influenza ... we'd prefer that you didn't go to an ED of a hospital," he said.

"What we're trying to do is get people, as much as possible, to get in contact by telephone first, so that they can get appropriate instructions."

People would either be told what action to take at home or, if a visit was deemed necessary, a specific time would be made and they would be directed to a certain door rather than having them in the waiting room.

"Emergency departments are always busy, especially through winter, and we're not wanting people with infectious disease to turn up unannounced, because it just heightens the likelihood that they might pass their bugs on, whatever it is they've got.''

However, people were not expected to self-diagnose. For children, in particular, the symptoms of the flu were similar to that of meningitis.

The Ministry of Health advised that people who had travelled overseas but were well did not need to be routinely excluded from school or work. However, if they had flu symptoms within seven days they should call their doctor or Healthline (0800 611 116), and not go to school or work.

It was not necessary to cancel or postpone overseas travel, it advised.

"In most cases, people with influenza can safely recover at home and will not need to see their GP or emergency clinic.

"However, people should seek medical advice when necessary, especially if their condition worsens.  Seeking medical advice is particularly important for people with underlying medical problems who are at higher risk of complications from influenza.''