NZ over 200 cases confirmed, early limited community transmission

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 35 cases confirmed, 1 hospitalised

Re: NZ 35 cases confirmed, 1 hospitalised

Two sisters, aged 10 and 13, have been isolated in Starship Hospital with respiratory illnesses and may have swine flu.
Health officials at Auckland Hospital say the sisters were admitted to hospital on Wednesday night. It's thought they may have contracted the virus from a member of their extended family who had been in Melbourne.
Because of a family event, the children have not been at school and haven't spread their illness to other school kids.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10578089

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 35 cases confirmed, 2 hospitalised

Re: NZ 35 cases confirmed, 2 hospitalised

More than 60 pre-school and secondary students are in isolation after two Christchurch children tested positive for swine flu.
The number of confirmed cases of the virus in New Zealand rose to 36 on Friday.
Canterbury's medical officer of health Ramon Pink says the two children, aged four and eight, are believed to have caught swine flu from their grandmother who returned from the Australian state of Victoria earlier this month.
Mr Pink says 18 children who had contact with the younger child at preschool are in isolation, and seven are showing flu-like symptoms.
The children's teenage brother is also being tested for the virus. He has been in contact with about 50 students and teachers from Burnside High School, who are also in isolation.
The World Health Organisation has declared a flu pandemic, and the Ministry of Health estimates more than one million New Zealanders could contract the virus.


http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/06/13/1245b5dae2e2

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ 35 cases confirmed, 2 hospitalised

Re: NZ 35 cases confirmed, 2 hospitalised

Swine flu upgrades to community transmission
The number of confirmed cases has risen from 34 yesterday to 43. The number of confirmed cases has risen from 34 yesterday to 43.
Sat, 13 Jun 2009 5:29p.m.

Swine flu is now being spread in the community and not just from contact with people who have travelled overseas.

The number of confirmed cases has risen from 34 yesterday to 43.

The Government has been planning for a pandemic for four years, but hoped to get through the winter flu rush before the new strain begun to spread among the community.

Dr Darren Hunt, Deputy Director of Public Health, says the community transmission is an evolving situation.

?It's an early indication that we are starting to see some spread in the Wellington community. At the moment it appears to be localised, but of course this is an evolving situation,?

Two patients, who have had no contact with overseas travellers, have caught swine flu.

The Public Health team is still focusing on containing the spread in the rest of the country for as long as possible.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the virus upgrade will see a large increase in swine flu cases.

?The issue is that we don't have immunity to it and so that means that many people will fall sick,? he says.

?That will put a lot of pressure on our hospitals and emergency departments.?

The new virus will also affect people's workplaces, Auckland's Tip Top factory have cancelled their ice cream tours and birthday parties to protect their staff from the threat of germ-ridden visitors.

Scientists overseas are currently working on a vaccine, but it is unlikely to be available until the end of September at the earliest.

Fadela Chaib from the World Health Organisation says it is of primary concern to get the vaccine.

?That is of great importance for all countries, because it is a new virus and we don't have any immunity to it - so we will need a vaccine soon,? he says.

Until the vaccine is created the New Zealand Government has to rely on Tamiflu.

The virus has now infected nearly 30,000 people in 74 countries, but deaths have occurred in only 8 nations.

145 people have died from the flu, but half of those had complications such as asthma, diabetes and obesity.

http://www.3news.co.nz/News/HealthN...bid/423/articleID/108471/cat/526/Default.aspx

 

[Sally Furniss]

NZ - MOH Confirmed cases increased to 71 - a 65 percent jump in 24 hours

NZ - MOH Confirmed cases increased to 71 - a 65 percent jump in 24 hours

Swine flu strikes a North Shore high school, Porirua police college

The total number of confirmed swine flu cases in NZ has risen to 71

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 6:09p.m.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed a further 28 cases of swine flu in the past 24 hours ? taking the total in New Zealand to 71.

That includes 13 in Auckland and three in Wellington confirmed today.
One case affects a school and another a police training college.

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

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.

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 told NZPA.
"(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."

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 told NZPA.

"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."

Even the long arm of the law is not immune from the reach of swine flu, with a police recruit testing positive for the worldwide strain.

Police national manager of training Superintendent Mike Wilson said the recruit was training at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua, north of Wellington. He had been isolated, treated with Tamiflu and was recovering well.

All close contacts were also being given Tamiflu, and some had been quarantined.

All new courses planned to be held at the college during the next week had been postponed, and anyone who had attended courses recently was being contacted.

"In an institutional environment such as ours, the spread of this virus was somewhat inevitable and we have established response plans in place," Mr Wilson said.

"We are working in partnership with public health to isolate and contain as much as we practically can and have been reinforcing prevention strategies already in place with our staff around maintaining good hygiene practices.

"We are contacting our staff today to advise them of the situation and give them the message that if they have flu-like symptoms, they should stay home."

http://www.3news.co.nz/News/Swine-f...rticleID/108521/Default.aspx?ArticleID=108521

 

[kiwibird]

Re: NZ - MOH Confirmed cases increased to 71 - a 65 percent jump in 24 hours

Re: NZ - MOH Confirmed cases increased to 71 - a 65 percent jump in 24 hours

The ACT Government has opened a second swine flu clinic at Canberra Hospital after increasing numbers of patients and a bookings breakdown left some families waiting seven hours for treatment at Calvary Hospital yesterday.

But bookings are essential and Health Minister Katy Gallagher says Canberrans shouldn't expect immediate treatment or even swine flu tests when they attend the flu clinics.

.......

Frustrated parents told The Canberra Times they had received no warning about lengthy delays at the clinic.

One father, who asked not to be named, spent more than seven hours in the clinic with his young daughter before he could leave.

''The procedure seems a little ridiculous,'' the Hawker man said.

''We had no warning we would be spending all day in a small room crammed with school kids, with nothing to entertain them.''

..

From the ACT Thread. I hope that the New Zealand system of ringing in does not cause people to be confined together, ill, waiting to see someone. Seasonal Tamiflu resistant influenza would be mixing with the A/H1N1!

 

[kiwibird]

Flu may have spread at church and backpackers tour bus

Flu may have spread at church and backpackers tour bus

Fears over spread of flu at church
By CHARLIE GATES - The Press
Last updated 05:00 15/06/2009
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Health officials fear quarantined Christchurch Samoans sick with swine flu may have spread the virus if they went to church yesterday.

Canterbury health officials believe they have contained the outbreak of 14 cases of swine flu in the Samoan community over the weekend.

However, they will meet Samoan ministers and community leaders today to underline that ill people must not attend church.

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Alistair Humphrey said swine flu could be spread by sick people going to church.

"It is a church-going community and we had great difficulty persuading people not to go to church," he said.

"There is a possibility that some people attended church even though they were unwell, which is very alarming."

Humphrey said religious members of the community had a stronger desire to attend church when they were ill.

"Some people who are very religious feel that the one time you should be at church is when you are sick," he said.

"The spiritual pull of the church is a very strong one for some Samoan people."

The 14 new cases since Friday bring the total confirmed Canterbury cases of the influenza A (H1N1) virus to 18.

The outbreak began when a woman returned from Australia, fell sick with swine flu, and did not contact her GP. The virus was then transmitted to family members, including her grandchildren.

A year nine grandchild attended Burnside High School while he was contagious.

As a result, 47 students in his classes and five teachers have been given Tamiflu and been quarantined until Wednesday morning.

Another grandchild attended Tino E Tasi Preschool in Wainoni for two days while he was contagious.

The 49 children and 10 staff members at the preschool have also been given Tamiflu and quarantined until Wednesday morning.

At least five children and two teachers from the preschool have been confirmed with swine flu.

Patricia Silao, who helps run the Tino E Tasi preschool, said they were doing all they could to contain the virus.

"We are taking all the precautions we can and following the advice. It is for the sake of everybody in the community," she said.

Humphrey said he was confident the outbreak had been contained. This meant the virus was not yet spreading within the Canterbury community and all cases could, so far, be traced back to people returning home from overseas.

The number of confirmed cases in New Zealand rose from 55 yesterday to 71 by last night.

In Auckland, all Year 12 students at Westlake Girls' High School have been ordered to stay home for the week after a classmate was confirmed with the virus.

Health Minister Tony Ryall said there was no need for alarm, and that more cases should be expected nationwide.
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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, nor should they just turn up at a medical centre.

"I don't think your workmates or your schoolmates would be happy if you're spreading it around," Ryall said.

Backpackers potentially exposed to swine flu in the South Island are being tracked down by health officials.

A probable case of swine flu on a backpacker tour bus has seen 40 young travellers quarantined at Seaview Hospital in Hokitika.

Other backpackers that left the tour bus earlier to travel alone are being sought by health officials.

Humphrey said the young travellers were not concerned at being quarantined. "They seem reasonably happy about that from all reports," he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2500000/Fears-over-spread-of-flu-at-church

 

[Evelyn]

New Zealand A/H1N1 flu cases jump to 86

New Zealand A/H1N1 flu cases jump to 86

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/15/content_11545401.htm

New Zealand A/H1N1 flu cases jump to 86

www.chinaview.cn 2009-06-15 14:55:11

WELLINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 in New Zealand rose to 86 on Monday, an increase of 15 from Sunday, said Health Minister Tony Ryall.

Ryall told a press conference in Wellington that the number was expected to rise and the Ministry of Health was going to step up its public information campaign about flu prevention.

"What we're seeing around the world is that there's a rapid transfer in young people," he said. "The strategy remains containment. We want to delay the major impact of swine flu beyond the normal winter cycle."

Ryall said there were normally about 31,000 hospital admissions a month during winter and health officials thought there could be another 4000.

The Ministry of Health has moved up its national pandemic planning to level 6.2 - the last phase before what it calls "Code Red", in which the virus is not contained and widespread.

The health minister said there was no cause for alarm. He said more cases can be expected now that the disease is being transmitted through the community, but the virus is mild and most people infected have been able to manage it themselves without medication - and have recovered quickly.

Ryall said the health authorities were trying to delay its spread to reduce the stress on emergency departments and clinics, already under pressure with seasonal flu.

Specialist testing centers have been set up at hospitals in Wellington and Lower Hutt for people who public health officials refer to be swabbed for the virus to keep them away from regular hospital patients.

It is anticipated the influenza A/H1N1 may have another two months to run before its potency begins to fade in New Zealand.

A small Catholic Auckland primary schools has become the first school to close its doors to all students after a Year 5 pupil was confirmed as having the flu virus.

Carmel Bullot, principal of St Patrick's in Panmure, said she was contacted on Sunday by Auckland regional health authorities, though the decision to close was made late on Monday afternoon.

Bullot said 36 of the 145 children on the roll were absent on Monday, and four more were sent home before lunch.

Burnside High School in Christchurch and Auckland's Westlake Girls' High School have imposed partial quarantine after a student at each school contracted the virus.

Nearly a quarter of Westlake students has been ordered by health officials to stay home this week after a Year 12 girl contracted the virus. Other people with symptoms will also be treated with the drug Tamiflu.

Burnside principal Ron Noordijk said 47 Year 9 pupils and five teachers are being treated with Tamiflu and kept in home isolation until Wednesday.

The health minister said in Australia school closures have slowed the spread of the disease and he expects more schools to adopt the same measures if need be.

The Council of Trade Unions said workplaces need to boost communication with workers about influenza A/H1N1, as concerns about the virus escalate.

Health officials were warning the number of cases could grow quickly, now that the H1N1 virus is spreading in the community and has been found in people not linked to overseas travel.

 

[kiwibird]

117 Confirmed Cases New Zealand

117 Confirmed Cases New Zealand

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/swine-flu/2502889/Confirmed-swine-flu-cases-at-109
Confirmed swine flu cases at 109
Last updated 15:30 16/06/2009

CLOSED: Bromley Primary School's 320 pupils have been advised to stay home.
photo
CRAIG SIMCOX/The Dominion Post
GERM WATCH: Wellington Hospital has posted swine flu alerts on the entrance.
A beginner's guide to swine flu
Related Links
Full coverage Swine flu worldwide: map Young Aussie skiers pose swine flu concern Fears over spread of flu at church Swine flu spreads to 5 schools Residents told to stock up Confirmed swine flu cases nearly 100 Don't penalise workers: EPMU
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There are now 109 confirmed cases of swine flu in New Zealand with 23 of them coming in the last 24 hours.

Of the 23 latest cases, seven cases are in Auckland, three in Wellington and 13 in Christchurch.

Are you having a swine flu party or do you know of anyone deliberately exposing themselves or their children to swine flu? Email editorial@stuff.co.nz or phone 04-4740098.

The Ministry of Health said that while the number of cases was increasing, there are still relatively few cases and only isolated instances of community transmission.

The public interest in swine flu had been significant with 1500 calls answered at Healthline yesterday, almost double the usual amount.

SWINE FLU PARTIES

Meanwhile the Health Ministry has warned against hosting "swine flu parties" following overseas concerns parents are deliberately exposing children.

The Canterbury District Health Board said all cases of the influenza A (H1N1) strain stemmed from a single case. That person contracted swine flu after visiting Victoria, Australia in early June.

Meanwhile, media reports in Australia and the United States say some parents have intentionally exposed their children to swine flu, believing that infecting them now will save them from a potentially more virulent strain in the future.

The trend has prompted the Australian government to warn against swine flu parties gatherings where people intentionally expose themselves to the flu, in order to become infected with the virus. The idea has also been panned by health experts here.

New Zealand's deputy director of public health Dr Fran McGrath said the tactic went completely against the Health Ministry's efforts to contain the virus.

"The reason we're doing [containment] is because this is a brand new virus to which people don't have immunity so there will be lots of people who get it," she said.

She said that if people deliberately made themselves ill this would have a huge impact on already-stretched health services. "...swine flu parties are definitely not part of our public health advice."
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There was also no guarantee that getting sick now would lead to immunity in the future.

"We don't know what the nature of the mutation would be. If there were to be a second wave then it would be because of a mutation in the virus and you can't tell how big that mutation might be and therefore how useful any immunity from an earlier version would be."

"It may give you some [immunity] but we can't be sure about that."

The concept appears to have stemmed from chickenpox parties where parents would deliberately infect their children in the knowledge the virus was less serious in children than adults.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in United States, people hope to become affected from the mild form of the virus, in the hope of having natural immunity to a more virulent form that might circulate later.

Flu specialist Anne Moscona told the New York Times: "I can't believe people are really thinking of doing it. I understand the thinking, but I just fear we don't know enough about how this virus would react in every individual.

"This is like the Middle Ages, when people deliberately infected themselves with smallpox. It's vigilante vaccination you know, taking immunity into your own hands."

CANTERBURY CASES

Thirteen new cases have been confirmed in the Canterbury region.

All cases stemmed from a single person who had been in Victoria, Australia in early June and contracted swine flu.

All those affected were being treated with Tamiflu and recent contacts were being traced.

The cases included six pupils from three schools in Christchurch's eastern suburbs, and a Minister in a Samoan Church who worked at Christchurch Hospital in the catering team.

A Christchurch seafood processing plant has also sent home all its factory staff after a second case of swine flu was discovered there.

Sea Products in Woolston sent home night shift workers yesterday after one staff member caught swine flu, but now the day shift has also been quarantined for three days with antiviral drug Tamiflu after a second case was confirmed.

The 100 workers will all be back to work by Friday.

"The catering team member had not been to work during the infectious stage of the illness," Canterbury medical officer of health Alistair Humphrey said.

Swine flu was a highly contagious disease, he said.

"Once someone who is infected is amongst other members of the community, including students and workmates, it is inevitable others will get sick," he said.

While most people do not become seriously unwell, the virus' potential effect on businesses, schools and the community was starting to show itself, Mr Humphrey said. In East Auckland primary school St Patrick's, in Panmure, yesterday sent all of its 145 pupils home for a week after having one confirmed case of swine flu, and a number of others suffering flu-like symptoms.

Bromley School in Christchurch has been closed for seven days by health officials to prevent the spread of swine flu.

A recorded message on the school's phone said all families would be contacted by the weekend with further information.

"Huge apologies for the disruption to family life,'' the message said.

The primary school has 320 pupils.

Other Auckland schools were also hit.

At Kowhai Intermediate, in central city Kingsland, one class of year eight students and a teacher were in quarantine.

Papatoetoe High School in South Auckland has one swine flu case, while on the North Shore at Westlake Girls' High School some 450 year 12 students are away for a week, after one case.

Health Ministry planning was to enable health services to manage large numbers of cases as well as maintain services for those who most need them, Dr McGrath said.

"An important part of this approach will include advising individuals how to look after themselves at home where this is possible ? in the same way they would with seasonal flu."

Swine flu may be serious for some people and they should seek advice either from Healthline 0800 611 116 or their GP ? but phone ahead first.

The new confirmed cases yesterday were in Auckland (two), Rotorua (one), Tauranga (two), Wellington (five) and Christchurch (five).

STOP THE SPREAD

The ministry has refined advice to arriving international travellers ? only people with flu-like symptoms within four days of travel were now considered to be at risk of swine flu.

Workers should stay home only if they have flu-like symptoms or if they have had medical advice, the ministry said.

They should stay home for seven days after symptoms begin, or until symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.

This was to keep them from infecting others.

Hand hygiene was still the most effective protection ? wash hands with soap and water and dry them thoroughly, the ministry advised.

Alcohol-based cleaners were also effective, and people should avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth, as germs spread this way.

The Ministry of Health has moved its response to phase 6.2 which means restrictions could be placed on public gatherings and a state of emergency could be declared. It is the last phase before code red.

- By MICHAEL FOX, Stuff.co.nz with NZPA

 

[FrenchieGirl]

Re: 117 Confirmed Cases New Zealand

Re: 117 Confirmed Cases New Zealand

H1N1 cases up to 117 in NZ

Published: 6:36AM Wednesday June 17, 2009
Source: Newstalk ZB/ONE News

H1N1 flu continues to spread, with the number of cases in New Zealand now up to 117.

The children's ward in Wellington Hospital is the latest to be hit, with one child in isolation after testing positive for the flu.

Ranui Primary School in West Auckland is the latest school to close after four confirmed cases of swine flu there.

The school of 500 students was closed on Tuesday.

Principal Steph Tawha says the four children are from the same family.

Tawha says the fact the siblings are in different years meant the virus probably couldn't be contained at the school.

At this stage the school is closed until Monday, when the principal will seek advice from health authorities before reopening.

It is the third school to completely close its doors in response to the virus, joining St Patricks Primary in Panmure and Bromley School in Christchurch.

North Shore's Westlake Girls High School has told all 450 of its year 12 students to stay home this week.

A Christchurch seafood export business is the first company casualty, with 100 workers home after two cases of the virus.

 

[kiwibird]

Hundreds in isolation

Hundreds in isolation

Hundreds in isolation as swine flu takes hold

By JOHN HARTEVELT - The Press Last updated 05:00 17/06/2009

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/ The Press
PRECAUTION: A boy wears a mask during a visit to Bromley School, Christchurch, where parents are being issued with the anti-viral drug Tamiflu.
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<!--story_features(_empty)--> <!-- -normal_story_landing- --> <!--start components/story/common_content--> Hundreds of families are in isolation and two people have been hospitalised with swine flu as the virus spreads across New Zealand.
Last night, Canterbury District Health Board confirmed a child with influenza A (H1N1) had been kept in Christchurch Hospital overnight for observation during the weekend.
A second person was still being treated but was being kept away from other patients.
Christchurch's Bromley School yesterday closed for seven days, while Linwood College and Linwood Intermediate sent scores of pupils into isolation.
A further 94 workers from Woolston company Sea Products were quarantined at home for three days.
A second company is likely to face quarantine measures today.
They follow 77 pupils and teachers from Burnside High School and 59 from the Tino E Tasi preschool already in quarantine.
As infection rates increase rapidly, health officials are preparing to move from virus containment to management within the community.
"There will be a transition point and we're in that phase at the moment," Christchurch virologist Dr Lance Jennings said.
All eight new cases confirmed in Canterbury yesterday bringing the total to 39 stemmed from a Samoan grandmother who returned from Victoria, Australia, this month.
Four pupils at Bromley School were infected by family members from the nearby Tino E Tasi preschool.
A granddaughter of the Samoan woman attended the preschool while contagious.
Several other children at Bromley School, which has about 300 pupils, were unwell with flu-like symptoms, so the Ministry of Health recommended the school close.
Principal Scot Kinley said 80 pupils were identified as contacts of the infected four and were given Tamiflu and placed in isolation.
Bromley School mother Rachel Smith said her daughter was in quarantine, but that meant she also had to keep her two other children at home for three days.
She wondered how working parents would manage.
"How are they going to get daycare? Not many people want to look after kids that have been in contact," she said.
Jennings said parents with infected children "should be aware they could be incubating the virus".
"Of course, they can't leave the child at home.
"This is why the specific advice that the Ministry of Health gives is that we have an adequate supply of food in the house so that we don't have to rush off to the supermarket."
Parents should be prepared to stay at home for a week, Jennings said.
"Certainly, as soon as they develop symptoms, they should confine themselves as well," he said.

Last night, Linwood College, a school of nearly 1000 pupils, cancelled its open night after one Year 9 student was confirmed with swine flu.
About 35 pupils and four teachers who had contact with the girl a member of the Samoan woman's extended family were placed in isolation.
"Some were a little bit anxious and some liked the idea of having a holiday for three days; it's just about all of the emotions you can think of," Linwood College principal Rob Burrough said.
"We're all crossing our fingers and hoping to hang on until the school holidays in a little under three weeks."
Linwood Intermediate had one Year 8 pupil confirmed with swine flu.
All 25 classmates, two teachers and two teacher aides were called in to the school last night to receive Tamiflu and ordered to stay at home.
Vaccine may be ready in July
A swine flu vaccine should be available next month, but New Zealand authorities might not take it up.
United States-based Baxter International yesterday said it was in full-scale production of an influenza A (H1N1) vaccine, which could be ready for commercial use next month.
Other drug companies are not expected to deliver a vaccine until at least August.
However, Christchurch virologist Dr Lance Jennings, who is an international expert on the prevention and treatment of influenza, said the first available vaccine would not necessarily be taken up by the Ministry of Health.
"We're going to be well into our outbreak before a commercial vaccine becomes available in New Zealand, so the Ministry of Health may well make the decision to hold off any vaccine purchase until a seasonal vaccine becomes available," he said.
A ministry spokeswoman said no decisions had been made on vaccines.
"The ministry hasn't identified a single provider, and negotiations are continuing with a range of vaccine producers," she said.
Jennings said drug companies faced delays in making vaccines publicly available.
"The rate-limiting step with all vaccine-manufacturing processes is it's easy to produce bulk vaccines but it's then putting it into syringes and labelling it that's the rate-limiting step," he said. "If you're producing hundreds of thousands of doses of a vaccine, that takes time."
The pandemic plan dictated that frontline healthcare workers and other people in essential services would be first in line for a vaccine, he said.
"... the New Zealand ministry does have a forward-purchasing agreement with [Australian drug manufacturer] CSL, and other vaccine manufacturers are talking to the ministry."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/swine-flu/2506569/Hundreds-in-isolation-as-swine-flu-takes-hold