Ryall Tony: Ministerial Statements — Swine Flu—New Zealand Response 
Ryall Tony: Ministerial Statements — Swine Flu—New Zealand Response 
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Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) 
: 
 I wish to make a ministerial statement under Standing Order 347 in relation to the global influenza situation and the responses here in New Zealand. As has been said this is a time for concern and caution not alarm. 
On Saturday morning Air New Zealand flight NZ1 arrived in Auckland from Los Angeles at 5 a.m. On board was a school group from Rangitoto College travelling home from a trip to Mexico. Several of the students had flu symptoms. Their teacher insisted they see their doctors. Just a few hours later at 12.30 p.m. one of those general practitioners contacted the Auckland Regional Public Health Service. The Auckland public health response centre was activated by 3 p.m. and by 6 p.m. a team of nurses had been assembled equipped and were out assessing the Rangitoto group. All were treated with Tamiflu and isolated with their families by 10 o’clock that night. 
The Ministry of Health activated its coordination centre on that same day in accordance with the emergency Influenza Pandemic Action Plan and the national Tamiflu stock at Middlemore Hospital was made available. On Sunday night testing revealed that 10 of the Rangitoto College group had influenza A; swine flu is a subset of influenza A. Because of their recent travel to Mexico and a greater sense of caution ministry officials decided that the group should be treated as probable cases of swine flu. Our health services’ response was rapid thorough and appropriate for the level of risk apparent at that time. The work of the past 4 years preparing for a situation such as this needs to be acknowledged. It is important to be clear that there are no confirmed cases of swine flu in New Zealand but I am advised that at this point health authorities are operating as though there are. 
The Rangitoto College samples are now being tested for H1N1 swine flu at the World Health Organization laboratory in Melbourne. To date the Rangitoto College group’s flu symptoms have been mild and all 10 are on the road to recovery. This is consistent with the pattern experienced so far in other countries outside of Mexico. Public health officials tell me that they have contact-traced almost all of the passengers on flight NZ1 who disembarked in Auckland. They have all been medically assessed offered Tamiflu as a precaution and asked to stay at home. Three students from Northcote College with flu-like symptoms who also visited Mexico and returned home later that Saturday morning have tested negative for influenza A. Public health officials were able to tell them and their families late last night that they are no longer at risk. 
Since Sunday night there have been doctors and nurses at Auckland Airport meeting all international flights arriving from North America and passengers are being assessed. I am advised that as a result of the increasing international spread of swine flu the Ministry of Health has asked that a statement providing information and advice on swine flu should be read on all incoming flights into New Zealand. In addition the ministry has requested a travel health notice is given to all incoming passengers on arrival. Regional public health services around the country are supporting this effort. At last count in addition to the 10 Rangitoto College students 56 people are being monitored around New Zealand. Those suspected cases are being tested to see whether they too have influenza A. 
The key public health message is this: people who have been in Mexico or the United States in the past fortnight and have flu-like symptoms should contact their general practitioner or a health professional. The Ministry of Health says that if people have flu-like symptoms and they have not been to Mexico or the United States in the past fortnight then they should treat any flu symptoms as normal seasonal influenza—they should do what they would normally do. I have been advised in the past few minutes that later today the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will be upgrading its travel advisory to suggest that people defer non-essential travel to Mexico. The existing health measures are fully justified. Officials are ready for any escalation in the domestic or international swine flu situation. As this rapidly changing situation evolves updates are being issued and press briefings are being held. This is a matter that the Government and officials are treating with the utmost caution and concern. This is a threat that New Zealand has planned for and many of the best people in the New Zealand health services are working night and day to protect the health of our country.