New Zealand's Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs has taken the rare move of urging Pacific people to take steps to curb swine flu, amid statistics it's labelled worrying.
It says figures for the H1-N1 virus show a high number of Pacific Islanders as confirmed cases, and action is needed to stop it escalating any further.
The Health Ministry's chief advisor on Pacific Health, Dr Api Talemaitoga, says there is a double burden of existing medical conditions and factors like overcrowding.
He says the Pacific Island community features many cases of respiratory illness, heart problems and diabetes which make people susceptible to swine flu complications.
Dr Talemaitoga says many Pacific Islanders are also waiting until the last moment to seek help.
