Suspected Swine Flu in New Zealand

by Blue Crush | April 25, 2009 at 11:22 pm

489 views | 77 Recommendations | 14 comments

Update:

Health officials have confirmed that ten of the New Zealand group has type A influenza.

NYC Mayor Bloomberg has just announced that the CDC has confirmed that swine flu is indeed the case in eight cases there as well.

There are now suspected cases in France (2) and Spain (3) as well. In both cases, they were people returning from Mexico and are now being tested and quarantined. (Thanks, Vinny)

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The Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) is investigating for swine flu, after 14 people out of a group of 25 from Rangitoto College returned from Mexico on Saturday with symptoms of the virus.

The affected families were advised of provisional results, but they have not been released. The group is quarantined at home until final results come back from WHO in a few days.

The group of 22 senior students and three teachers arrived into New Zealand from Mexico via Los Angeles on Saturday, having spent three weeks in Mexico.

The group of students and teachers have been placed in home isolation until preliminary test results are known.

Auckland Regional Public Health clinical director Dr Julia Peters said: “We are taking this very seriously and doing everything necessary to manage this situation in Auckland. The Ministry of Health is managing the response to this issue at a national level.”

See NowPublic special news coverage in our Swine Flu Channel.

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Amy Judd

at 23:30 on April 25th, 2009

Oh my goodness... this is not good at all

Vinny

at 03:26 on April 26th, 2009

There is now a suspected case in Israel.

albertacowpoke

at 03:26 on April 26th, 2009

It sure looks like this flu is spreading fairly quickly. National health authorities all over the world and the WHO seem to be taking all the necessary action. Let's hope it gets contained. Thanks for this update Blue Crush.

albertacowpoke

at 03:33 on April 26th, 2009

As of 7:30 Eastern time 81 cases have been confirmed in Mexico, 11 in the US and still no confirmed cases in Canada.

jazzyzazzy

at 05:08 on April 26th, 2009

raygippee. Its a world wide epidemic that is being predicted. Its airborn so is a matter of how far nature will let it travel and how fast. Be grateful they are on the case and speedily finding a way to stop it in its tracks. And as for those who have already caught it,Hope they get well soon.

Pythiian1

at 05:49 on April 26th, 2009

It's scary that these people might be bringing this strain of communicable disease back to their home country ...

Pythiian1

at 08:15 on April 26th, 2009

Hi Blue Crush,

I've some updates over at Jordan's piece on the St. Francis school in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York.

Blue Crush

at 12:53 on April 26th, 2009

Thanks, Pythiian. I'm watching the White House briefing on CNN. Seems like there's a lot more cases in the US, including Ohio and Kansas, and more to come.

CNN's link on this outbreak is quite informative, and kept up-to-date.

Pythiian1

at 13:40 on April 26th, 2009

You're welcome, Blue Crush.

Great follow-up source. My concern is that some people who don't read, watch, and listen to health care professionals, epidemiologists, and MDs as these announcements are released through official channels, but instead fanning misinformation due to ignorance, which is far more harmful to the public at-large in the affected countries.

Blue Crush

at 12:59 on April 26th, 2009

Outbreaks confirmed in Canada - 4 in Nova Scotia, 2 in B.C. If you plan to travel to Mexico within the next few days with Air Canada, call them, they are allowing you to rebook at no charge.

Please note that all cases outside of Mexico have been relatively mild.

Pythiian1

at 14:01 on April 26th, 2009

Governor Paterson of NY is currently briefing the New York public regarding swine flu.

According to the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Linda Gibbs, there is a multi-component health surveillance system that is being coordinated among all the major teaching medical schools, medical centers, and hospitals in New York to follow up and monitor all those affected. They are also monitoring cases in other states and coordinate with Mexico and other countries.

Dr. Guthrie Birkhead of New York State Department of Health has also alerted health care workers in the state. This is actually day 4 of the swine flu outbreak.

I've already posted this information in Jordan's and Amy's articles, but I'll repeat here:

The New York State Hotline: 1-800-808-1987

Blue Crush

at 15:02 on April 26th, 2009

Thanks, Pythiian, for keeping all pertaining articles up-to-date.

Here is Government of Canada's link to frequently asked questions on the Human Swine Influenza Outbreak: Public Health Agency of Canada Information Line: 1-800-454-8302