Another case of Influenza A/H1N1 has been confirmed in New Zealand on Monday, bringing the total number to five.
According to the latest figures released by the Health Ministry on Monday afternoon, there are five confirmed cases of Influenza A/ H1N1, a further 12 probably cases, 69 suspected cases - down 20 since Sunday - and 335 people in isolation or quarantine - down 25 since Sunday.
"There is still no evidence of community transmission - that means that to date, all of the cases have recently returned from traveling in affected areas or been a close contact of a case," said Fran McGrath, deputy director of Public Health, on Monday.
She said the National Center for Biosecurity and Infectious Diseases (ESR) is now able to report laboratory confirmed Influenza A/H1N1 and will continue to refer samples to the Melbourne WHO reference laboratory for re-confirmation as required under international reporting protocols.
In a related development, all 25 of the Rangitoto College students whose trip to Mexico sparked the first tests of Influenza A/H1N1 in New Zealand are back at school on Monday, including the four confirmed with the virus. They are all past any contagious stage.
While the number of potential Influenza A/H1N1 cases appears to have peaked in New Zealand, health authorities are not yet prepared to let their guard down.
Health officials said there have been no signs of Influenza A/ H1N1 spreading within New Zealand.
Deputy director of public health, Darren Hunt, said earlier Monday that the confirmed and suspected cases have either contracted the flu overseas or been in close contact with those who have.
Hunt said a lot of effort is being put into ensuring there is no community transmission of swine flu, especially going into the winter flu season, and none has been seen yet.
Hunt said he believed the swift reaction by health authorities here had kept the outbreak well contained, but that they were ready if the situation deteriorated.
The head of the National Influenza Center, Sue Huang, said not much is known about the swine flu virus and it is too soon to tell whether it has been contained.
Prime Minister John Key said on Monday the government did not over-react to the threat.
(Xinhua News Agency May 4, 2009)
