Samoa: Confirms first case of swine flu

[Sally Furniss]

Three incoming passengers to Samoa tested for swine flu

Posted at 23:18 on 30 April, 2009 UTC
The Ministry of Health in Samoa is monitoring the condition of three people who arrived in the country yesterday from the United States with flu like symptoms.
All incoming passengers on flights from New Zealand, the United States, and American Samoa are now being screened by health officials at the main international airport.
The health ministry has warned the public not to panic while tests are being carried out on the three for swine flu.
All airlines and shipping agents in Samoa have also been advised by the Ministry of health?s task force that includes representatives of several government ministries and corporations not to board ships or aircraft?s which may carry someone who may show flu like symptoms.
The World Health Organisation has raised the alert of the swine flu to level five, one short of a full blown global pandemic.
Level five alert means human to human transmission in at least two countries.
The alert comes after a 23 month old Mexican child died in Texas the first death from swine flu outside Mexico where the outbreak originated.

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=46295

[kiwibird]

Re: Samoa: Confirms first case of swine flu

H1N1 cases confirmed in Samoa
17-Jun-2009 10:29 AM

Samoa?s Ministry of Health has confirmed its first swine flu case after tests on a visiting Australian student returned positive.

Thirty students from a high school in Melbourne, in south-east Australia, have been in quarantine since last week after four of them developed flu -like symptoms.

The ministry has urged the public to stall calm but is advising against unnecessary gatherings.

Meanwhile, the number of swine flu cases confirmed in New Zealand has tripled this week, to more than 100.

AFP news agency said a number of schools have now sent pupils home in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus.

Yesterday, NZ Health Minister Tony Ryall warned a widespread outbreak would strain hospitals.

Reports that a first H1N1 case has been confirmed in Solomon Islands have proven incorrect.

The country?s health ministry is still awaiting the results of tests carried out on a local man who has recently returned from Australia.

Earlier, Radio Australia mistakenly reported that the results had been completed.