56 more people being tested for swine flu in New Z

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   56 more people being tested for swine flu in New Zealand  

WELLINGTON, April 28 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand health officials were investigating 56 new cases of suspected swine flu, as the World Health Organization warned of a significantly increased risk of an influenza pandemic. 
    In addition to the 10 already "probable" swine flu cases in Auckland's Rangitoto College, tests have been conducted on a further 56 people in New Zealand over the past days who have flu-like symptoms and have visited Mexico or the United States in the past two weeks. 
    "There are 10 probable cases - those are the Rangitoto cases - plus an additional 56 people have presented with symptoms," Health Minister Tony Ryall told a media conference in Wellington on Tuesday. 
    "These are people who have been in Mexico or the United States in the last two weeks. They are people who may or may not have influenza A." 
    "It's a time for caution and concern, but not a time for panic,"Ryall said. 
    Swine flu - a strain of influenza A - is suspected of causing at least 149 deaths in Mexico and infecting nearly 2000. Cases have also been reported in the United States, Canada, Spain and France. 
    The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert for swine flu by one level, two steps short of declaring a full-blown pandemic. 
    Ryall said the WHO had indicated a rise to level five was imminent and the organization had also advised it would be six to eight months before a vaccine could be made to battle the virus. 
    Ten people who went to Mexico on a Rangitoto College school trip tested positive for influenza A over the weekend. 
    It will not be known until results are returned from a World Health Organization laboratory in Melbourne - if they have the new strain of swine influenza. 
    Auckland Regional Public Health Service clinical director Julia Peters said the Melbourne laboratory was giving the testing its highest priority. 
    About 100 people are in quarantine as they wait for the Melbourne results. 
    Health officials were still trying to contact 18 of the 364 passengers that traveled with the group on Air New Zealand flight NZ1, which arrived in Auckland from Los Angeles on Saturday at 5 a.m. 
    A team of about 25 people had been working on tracing travelers. 
    All would be offered the flu medicine Tamiflu and asked to stay at home for several days and those they had had contact with would be dealt with as well, Ryall said. 
    In a related development, three people from Auckland's Northcote College who returned to New Zealand at the weekend after visiting Mexico were cleared of influenza A on Tuesday morning. 
    The trio had been exhibiting flu-like symptoms and there were fears they may have been infected. 
    Potential swine flu cases are also being monitored nationwide, including in Auckland, Hamilton, Nelson, Canterbury and Otago. 
    Health officials are now screening all passengers arriving in New Zealand from North America. 

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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: 56 more people being tested for swine flu in New Z Posted: April 27 2009 at 7:16pm
	56 more people being tested for swine flu in New Zealand WELLINGTON, April 28 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand health officials were investigating 56 new cases of suspected swine flu, as the World Health Organization warned of a significantly increased risk of an influenza pandemic. In addition to the 10 already "probable" swine flu cases in Auckland's Rangitoto College, tests have been conducted on a further 56 people in New Zealand over the past days who have flu-like symptoms and have visited Mexico or the United States in the past two weeks. "There are 10 probable cases - those are the Rangitoto cases - plus an additional 56 people have presented with symptoms," Health Minister Tony Ryall told a media conference in Wellington on Tuesday. "These are people who have been in Mexico or the United States in the last two weeks. They are people who may or may not have influenza A." "It's a time for caution and concern, but not a time for panic,"Ryall said. Swine flu - a strain of influenza A - is suspected of causing at least 149 deaths in Mexico and infecting nearly 2000. Cases have also been reported in the United States, Canada, Spain and France. The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert for swine flu by one level, two steps short of declaring a full-blown pandemic. Ryall said the WHO had indicated a rise to level five was imminent and the organization had also advised it would be six to eight months before a vaccine could be made to battle the virus. Ten people who went to Mexico on a Rangitoto College school trip tested positive for influenza A over the weekend. It will not be known until results are returned from a World Health Organization laboratory in Melbourne - if they have the new strain of swine influenza. Auckland Regional Public Health Service clinical director Julia Peters said the Melbourne laboratory was giving the testing its highest priority. About 100 people are in quarantine as they wait for the Melbourne results. Health officials were still trying to contact 18 of the 364 passengers that traveled with the group on Air New Zealand flight NZ1, which arrived in Auckland from Los Angeles on Saturday at 5 a.m. A team of about 25 people had been working on tracing travelers. All would be offered the flu medicine Tamiflu and asked to stay at home for several days and those they had had contact with would be dealt with as well, Ryall said. In a related development, three people from Auckland's Northcote College who returned to New Zealand at the weekend after visiting Mexico were cleared of influenza A on Tuesday morning. The trio had been exhibiting flu-like symptoms and there were fears they may have been infected. Potential swine flu cases are also being monitored nationwide, including in Auckland, Hamilton, Nelson, Canterbury and Otago. Health officials are now screening all passengers arriving in New Zealand from North America.