28 May 2009

NRL officials in swine flu quarantine after NZ flight

4:48 pm on 28 May 2009

Four National Rugby League match officials are in quarantine in Australia after being exposed to swine flu on a flight from Auckland to Canberra.

They are Bernard Sutton; Jared Maxwell, who has refereed 30 first-grade games; and touch judges Jeff Younis and Ricky McFarland.

NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley says they were placed in quarantine after being advised by Australian health officials that a fellow passenger on their flight had tested positive for swine flu.

He says the men have self-quarantined themselves and so far seem to be in good health.

They have been replaced for Round 12 games this weekend.

NZ figures down

In New Zealand, 23 people are suspected of having swine flu, down from 26 on Wednesday.

Director of public health Mark Jacobs says case numbers remain stable and efforts to contain the H1N1 virus and prevent community transmission are continuing.

24 people are currently in isolation, up from five on Tuesday.