Number of swine flu suspects in NZ reaches 66

The number of swine flu suspects in New Zealand has risen to 66, with 56 people in the process of being tested for Influenza A and 10 from Rangitoto College already confirmed positive.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Health said it was “probable” that the entire group of 25 staff and students from Rangitoto College have the swine influenza.

After nearly four days of confinement for the school group, they now face even longer quarantine.

Sophie Rice, a student from the group, said a teacher told students at the airport to stay away from school on Monday. But after seeing a family doctor Sophie has not been able to leave since.

Sophie’s sister Emily says the neighbours have been helping out by leaving food for the family on the door step.

“We’ve had out neighbours all offer to help”, she says. “We made a joke about it the other day that they pick it up and throw it down the drive so we don’t infect them.”

At Northcote College, two students and a parent who returned from Mexico with sore throats have been cleared.

Dr Julia Peters, clinical director of Auckland Regional Public Health Service, says if patients' conditions improve they will look to release them.

“We decided overnight that we would just maintain what we had been doing with the home isolation and the treatment with Tamiflu,” she says.

“What we are going to be saying to them today is that if they are well they can now go about their normal business.”

Health officials say passengers on the NZ5 flight will not be chased specifically but Saturday’s NZ1 Flight remains a priority, of which 18 passengers are still to be located.

Sophie’s mother Jill said she has been in regular contact with the Mexican families whom the children stayed with for three days.

“One of the families, the father helps to run a medlab over there so he’s got good knowledge of what’s going on there and he said that none of the children from the school that we stayed with have had swine flu.”