29 Jul 2009

Samoa swine flu cases soar

3:11 pm on 29 July 2009

The number of confirmed swine flu cases in Samoa has almost doubled.

The Ministry of Health says the number of confirmed cases of H1N1 or swine flu is now 67.

That's up from 37 confirmed cases in the country on Tuesday.

The general manager of the national health service Dr Stanley Dean released the figures last night after a batch of results came back from a testing laboratory in New Zealand.

Our correspondent in Samoa, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, says authorities in Samoa expect more cases of swine flu.

"There are still other swabs from tests this week to be sent over and that result will come up next week, so we are looking at the number of swine flu cases in Samoa to increase."

Schools have been shut down for a week in the country to try and stem the spread of the virus but our correspondent says the Ministry of Education will meet this week to review that.

Autagavaia also says that the Ministry of Health is advising people with mild flu symptoms to stay home and only seek help if symptoms get worse.

A special clinic set up in Samoa's capital Apia to treat suspected cases of swine flu is struggling to cope with the hundreds of people seeking help.