Information preferences "Knowing the difference" between swine flu and other flu emerged as a significant issue. This reflects previous reports of a strong desire from the public for symptom details about influenza [19] and the finding that public information about signs and symptoms are beneficial to public understanding of a pandemic [8] . Participants across all groups wanted to know about the specific swine flu symptoms which they could use to identify it and protect themselves from possible infection. There is a view that surveillance combined with good scientific information and operational research is crucial in limiting the spread of H1N1 [23] . A number of participants were concerned about testing and monitoring. They felt that the Ministry should not have "cut off monitoring quite so early" and that the failure to test for the H1N1 after health services became inundated with patients undermined the advice that the Ministry of Health was giving.