Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu - Update 71

Media Release
2.30 pm, Friday 12 June 2009

Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu - Update 71

New Zealand situation

The cumulative total of confirmed cases in New Zealand is now 34, up from 27 yesterday. The cumulative total of probable cases is 25, up from 10 yesterday.

There are seven new confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) today.

They are:

• A 73-year-old woman from the mid-central region.
• A 13-year-old Auckland girl, who has been admitted to Starship Children's Hospital with respiratory symptoms.The child is being nursed in strict isolation, with all appropriate infection control procedures in place. Staff who came into contact with the child have been given prophylactic Tamiflu. Staff are continuing to work with appropriate protection (such as wearing a surgical mask) to maintain this essential service.
• A 20-year-old woman, a 22-year-old man and an 8 month-old boy, all from the same Wellington address.
• A further 22-year-old Wellington man.
• A 26-year-old Wellington woman.

All the new cases have mild symptoms and with the exception of the Auckland girl, are being treated at home with Tamiflu. Close contacts of the new confirmed cases are being traced and will be treated withTamiflu and asked to stay in isolation at home.

How to protect yourself and others
Anyone who has recently travelled overseas and is ill with influenza symptoms is advised to phone their GP or Healthline (0800 611 116) for medical advice. Do not turn up at a hospital or medical centre before doing this as you can spread germs to other people.

Signs and symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also experience diarrhea and vomiting.

Hand hygiene is still the single most effective measure in protecting yourself. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them thoroughly.

Alcohol-based cleaners are also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs spread this way.

Practise good cough and sneeze etiquette. This means covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and disposing of the tissue in a lined rubbish bin with a lid or plastic bag.

Sick people should stay home until they are well, rather than going to school or work. Try to avoid contact with sick people and reduce time spent in crowded settings. If you become sick, stay home for seven days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep you from infecting others.
International Update from the World Health Organization

WHO has announced a pandemic phase 6 – the highest phase - which means there is global spread of the virus, but it does not mean the disease is severe.
As of 06:00 GMT, 11 June 2009, 74 countries have officially reported 28,774 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection, including 144 deaths.
As at 6am today, Australia reported 1307 cases of Influenza A (H1N1) infection.
The breakdown of the number of laboratory-confirmed cases by country is given in the following table and map. (http://www.who.int/csr/don/Map_20090610_0800.png)
Updates on the Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak are available on the WHO website on a regular basis (http://www.who.int).

Points to note
• For New Zealand, we continue steady as we go. New Zealand remains in the "keep it out and stamp it out" phase. Our interventions have been successful to date in containing and slowing the spread of the virus. We are entering the winter flu season where hospital Emergency Departments and GP clinics traditionally see greater numbers of people. Every week we slow the community spread of swine flu delays over burdening health services.
• Our current focus remains on limiting the spread of the virus from infected travellers. Anyone who has travelled overseas in the last seven days and now has flu like symptoms should stay at home and seek medical advice by phone in the first instance. They should tell their doctor of their travel history.
• If you have flu like symptoms, but have not travelled overseas in the past seven days (and have not been in close contact with someone who has), it is most likely you have seasonal influenza. Seek medical advice by phone in the first instance.
• The key message for the public is that if you are sick, stay home. Individuals with flu like symptoms should look after themselves at home, but should seek medical advice if necessary (by phone in the first instance).
• The importance of the “stay home if you are sick” message is that no one has immunity to this disease. Unlike with seasonal influenza, where some individuals are protected through vaccination or immunity from previous exposure, Influenza A (H1N1) is a new virus and the vast majority of people are expected to have no natural protection against it.

This information can be attributed to Dr Darren Hunt, Deputy Director of Public Health.

ENDS

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