Canterbury swine flu update

MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: 27.4.09
SUBJECT: Canterbury swine flu update

Canterbury District Health Board’s Community and Public Health division has been in contact with 37 people in Canterbury who were on the same flight as the Auckland students suspected of having swine flu.

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Ramon Pink said, “Seven of these people were unwell with flu symptoms. They are having swabs to determine the nature of their illness and are being given Tamiflu.” Household contacts of these people will also be given Tamiflu to help prevent them from becoming ill.

All passengers on Flight NZ1 that arrived in Auckland at 5am on Saturday 25 April are being asked to quarantine themselves at home. “The unwell passengers need to stay at home for seven days, while those that are well should do so for 72 hours or three days,” Dr Pink said. Everyone that was on the flight will receive a five day course of Tamiflu.

Calls have increased to Canterbury health services in the last few days, with most people heeding the message to phone their GP if they are unwell and have been in Mexico or North America in the last two weeks.

Canterbury people who are well and were on the NZ1 flight should contact CDHB’s Community and Public Health division to receive their course of Tamiflu.

ENDS

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