10 May 2009

Students confirmed as having swine flu

5:37 pm on 10 May 2009

The number of people in New Zealand confirmed as having swine flu has risen from five to seven.

Two of the Rangitoto College group who were thought to probably have the virus have been confirmed as having had the illness.

The Ministry of Health said on Saturday that both have been treated with Tamiflu and are now well.

There are now 62 suspected cases, down from 75 on Friday, and 158 people in isolation or quarantine, which is down from 278 on Friday.

The Ministry of Health says more people have completed the necessary 72-hour isolation period but numbers will continue to fluctuate.

The World Health Organisation says 29 countries have officially reported a total of 3440 cases of the virus, also known as H1N1.

Forty-eight people have died - 44 in Mexico, three in the United States and one in Canada.