6 May 2009

Number of confirmed cases of swine flu down by one

4:26 pm on 6 May 2009

The number of confirmed cases of swine flu in New Zealand has dropped one to five.

More tests were carried out on a sixth person who was identified on Tuesday as having swine flu but the tests ruled out the virus.

The Ministry of Health says there are 14 probable cases - down one from earlier on Wednesday.

The number of suspected cases is 79. Furthermore, there are 358 people in isolation and being treated with Tamiflu.

Meanwhile, six students and two teachers from Avondale College in Auckland are in self-imposed isolation after travelling on a plane from America with a person suspected of having swine flu.

College principal Brent Lewis says the decision to stay home was made between the school, students and teachers who were on the trip to America.

Mr Lewis says they were not asked to go into isolation by the Ministry of Health and are not displaying any symptoms.

He says those in home isolation have not been taking the anti-viral drug Tamiflu and will be return to school on Monday.