31 May 2009

Swine flu screening to increase at Queenstown Airport

8:34 pm on 31 May 2009

The Ministry of Health says it will step up screening for swine flu at Queenstown Airport during the ski season.

Claims that international Queenstown bound flights are to be diverted through Christchurch have however been rejected.

National Incident Controller Steve Brazier says screening procedures at the border are adequate and health officials are at present managing to contain the spread of swine flu.

Currently there are 30 suspected cases in New Zealand with 23 people in isolation or quarantine and being treated with Tamiflu.

NZ monitors increase in Australia

Health officials in New Zealand are concerned by a rapid rise in cases of swine flu in Australia and say they are monitoring the situation closely.

A total of 303 cases of swine flu are now confirmed across the Tasman in every state and territory.

Public health deputy director Dr Darren Hunt says there are more than 15,500 cases worldwide, indicating that at some point person-to-person transmission within New Zealand is likely.