NZ - First cases not linked to international travel

[Sally Furniss]

FIRST NZ CASES OF INFLUENZA A (H1N1) "SWINE FLU" NOT LINKED TO INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

Follow-up of two confirmed cases by Public Health Services in Wellington has not identified a link to travel or contact with travellers. For another three cases a link to travel is under investigation.

This is an early indication that there may be some community transmission of Influenza A (H1N1) "Swine Flu" in the Wellington region, although at this stage it may be localised and limited.

These cases presented to their local GP and emergency department, and contact tracing by public health staff has not found any link to travellers returning from overseas or another confirmed case.

These are the first confirmed cases reported in New Zealand that have not been directly linked to travellers infected overseas with H1N1, swine flu. The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised that swine flu is of "moderate" severity for most people.

Minister of Health, Tony Ryall, said the situation was changing rapidly and the health sector's response would be altered as the situation evolved. "At this time the Ministry of Health and public health services are continuing to focus on containing the spread of the virus. This includes activities at the borders to identify, isolate and treat any suspected cases. It's possible that we will see an exponential rise in case numbers in the days ahead, as we've seen in other countries," Mr Ryall said.

Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr Darren Hunt said plans for enhanced surveillance through GP clinics continue to be progressed. This will see more GPs swabbing a sample of patients each week for influenza.

"At some stage we will see areas with sustained community transmission, at which point there will be an increased emphasis on managing and reducing the impacts on our communities.

"Community transmission is the first indication of what is likely to be much wider spread within New Zealand at some point, given that this is a new virus with no immunity in the population.

"When we see wider community spread, and an increased number of cases it won't be possible to swab and test everyone. When that happens local health authorities will focus messages on the general public, not just recently-returned travellers. People need to continue to think about how they can look after themselves at home if they get sick," Dr Hunt said.

The Ministry of Health will have updated figures and case numbers this afternoon.

http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/influenza-a-h1n1-update-seventytwo-130609

 

[kiwibird]

Re: NZ - First cases not linked to international travel

Country braces for virus spread
By NATALIE AKOORIE - Waikato Times
Last updated 05:00 13/06/2009


Details surrounding the two Waikato people who tested positive for swine flu emerged last night as the country braced itself for a pandemic.

So far 35 people nationwide have been confirmed as having contracted the influenza (H1N1) virus. The number includes a man and a woman in the Waikato.

Health authorities believe the pandemic could infect up to one million New Zealanders, and last two years.

Waikato District Health Board said the infected male, a factory worker, was 28 years old and the woman, who returned from Melbourne on June 5 and later developed the virus, was 56.

It was still unclear whether or not the man contracted the virus while in another country or through someone who had been overseas.

The DHB would not say where the Waikato victims live or give the woman's occupation, but health authorities had tested their families and colleagues.

Waikato DHB spokeswoman Mary Anne Gill said she did not know the test results but the woman had completed her quarantine and the man was still in isolation. Quarantine included staying home for 72 hours and taking Tamiflu, the drug which reduces symptoms and speeds recovery.

Health Minister Tony Ryall said yesterday it was inevitable that swine flu would spread widely possibly infecting as many as a million Kiwis and lasting up to two years.

People were being encouraged to get immunised against normal winter flu strains so they did not suffer a "double whammy" as New Zealand maintained its tight containment approach following Thursday's World Health Organisation declaration of a pandemic.

In the Waikato 21 other suspected cases were being tested.

The message this weekend was for people with flu symptoms to stay home and ring their GP for advice.

Hospital emergency department waiting rooms at Thames, Te Kuiti, Taumarunui, Tokoroa and Waikato were now supplying masks for people suffering flu-like symptoms including coughing and sneezing.

"We are asking people to put them on while they are waiting," Mrs Gill said.

Sickness alert signs were erected at every entrance to Waikato Hospital yesterday warning people with flu symptoms not to visit patients.

Hamilton woman Tiffaney Matthews, 32, donned a mask during a visit to the hospital emergency department because she had a head cold.

She had burned her fingers on an exploding gas fire and put on a mask after seeing the hospital signs.

"I don't want to get anybody else sick."

WHAT TO DO

If you have travelled overseas in the past seven days and have flu-like symptoms, stay home and seek medical advice by phone.

Give details of your travel history. If you have not travelled overseas in the last week and have not been in contact with someone who has, any flu-like conditions are most likely to be seasonal influenza.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/2497216/Country-braces-for-virus-spread