Sally Furniss
Well-known member
Govt steps up swine flu precautions in light of Australia?s outbreak
More than 25,000 cases of swine flu have been reported in 73 countries
Tue, 09 Jun 2009 5:30p.m.
Students from Gisborne Boys' High School are the latest travellers to be quarantined with suspected swine flu.
The group of 16 students, two parents and a teacher came back from Brisbane on Sunday and five of the pupils are now showing symptoms.
The Government is initiating new quarantine guidelines in light of the recent cases of swine flu.
The new measures that are already in place have proved enough to surprise visitors to New Zealand.
Health Minister Tony Ryall says authorities are being posted in airports to monitor people entering New Zealand from affected countries.
?What we're focusing on is that every passenger coming into New Zealand from affected countries is being screened by a public health professional,? he says.
Swine flu swept the country in April and May and then outbreaks began to drop.
The infection rate is once again rising, particularly over the Tasman.
Ryall says Australia has recently been hit hard by the virus.
?There's been a massive increase in the number of swine flu cases in Australia, 1200 today and over 1000 in Victoria, with most concentrated in North Melbourne,? says Ryall.
The Government has dramatically stepped up safety measures, enlisting police to force people into quarantine if they contract the virus or have been in close contact with someone showing symptoms.
Health authorities can also forcibly exclude children and teachers with the virus from schools.
Suzi de Gouveia, Principal of St Teresa?s School, says the Health Ministry are targeting children who have travelled in affected countries.
?The ministry have recommended that any children who have travelled to countries that are affected stay away for 7 days on their return to New Zealand - even if they don't have symptoms,? she says.
More than 25,000 cases of swine flu have been reported in 73 countries.
The virus has proved fatal in 150 of the 25,000 cases, but the virus is still capable of crippling a country's health system.
Virologist Lance Jennings says there is a public perception that because fatalities are low, the virus is not dramatically effecting countries.
?There is a perception that it's causing relatively mild disease but of course it's spreading rapidly,? says Dr Jennings.
?It is paralysing Australia's health system at the present time.?
The virus is recently shown to be affecting healthy adults more than anyone, prompting New Zealand authorities to be weary of visiting Australian skiers this winter.
3 News
http://www.3news.co.nz/News/Govt-st...rticleID/107858/Default.aspx?ArticleID=107858
More than 25,000 cases of swine flu have been reported in 73 countries
Tue, 09 Jun 2009 5:30p.m.
Students from Gisborne Boys' High School are the latest travellers to be quarantined with suspected swine flu.
The group of 16 students, two parents and a teacher came back from Brisbane on Sunday and five of the pupils are now showing symptoms.
The Government is initiating new quarantine guidelines in light of the recent cases of swine flu.
The new measures that are already in place have proved enough to surprise visitors to New Zealand.
Health Minister Tony Ryall says authorities are being posted in airports to monitor people entering New Zealand from affected countries.
?What we're focusing on is that every passenger coming into New Zealand from affected countries is being screened by a public health professional,? he says.
Swine flu swept the country in April and May and then outbreaks began to drop.
The infection rate is once again rising, particularly over the Tasman.
Ryall says Australia has recently been hit hard by the virus.
?There's been a massive increase in the number of swine flu cases in Australia, 1200 today and over 1000 in Victoria, with most concentrated in North Melbourne,? says Ryall.
The Government has dramatically stepped up safety measures, enlisting police to force people into quarantine if they contract the virus or have been in close contact with someone showing symptoms.
Health authorities can also forcibly exclude children and teachers with the virus from schools.
Suzi de Gouveia, Principal of St Teresa?s School, says the Health Ministry are targeting children who have travelled in affected countries.
?The ministry have recommended that any children who have travelled to countries that are affected stay away for 7 days on their return to New Zealand - even if they don't have symptoms,? she says.
More than 25,000 cases of swine flu have been reported in 73 countries.
The virus has proved fatal in 150 of the 25,000 cases, but the virus is still capable of crippling a country's health system.
Virologist Lance Jennings says there is a public perception that because fatalities are low, the virus is not dramatically effecting countries.
?There is a perception that it's causing relatively mild disease but of course it's spreading rapidly,? says Dr Jennings.
?It is paralysing Australia's health system at the present time.?
The virus is recently shown to be affecting healthy adults more than anyone, prompting New Zealand authorities to be weary of visiting Australian skiers this winter.
3 News
http://www.3news.co.nz/News/Govt-st...rticleID/107858/Default.aspx?ArticleID=107858
