New influenza H1N1 - Update Seventy-six

Media Release

15 June 2009

New influenza H1N1 - Update Seventy-six

The number of cases of the new influenza H1N1 is increasing in New Zealand, but there are still relatively few cases and only isolated instances of community transmission.

Globally the number of cases is increasing, especially in Australia, and this is expected to continue.

New Zealand is still in the containment phase.
This is the reason that New Zealand has relatively few cases. At this time there remains a combination of border management (keep it out) and cluster control (stamp it out).

The objectives of this combined strategy are to prevent, delay and minimise the arrival of further cases of infection into New Zealand and to control any cases or clusters that are found in New Zealand. This strategy is being kept under continuous review.

Our planning is to enable health services to manage large numbers of cases as well as maintain services for those who most need them. An important part of this approach will include advising individuals how to look after themselves at home where this is possible - in the same way they would with seasonal flu.

People with chronic underlying conditions such as severe respiratory illness and severe heart disease will need to be vigilant and seek early medical advice if they develop influenza symptoms, whether seasonal influenza or new H1N1.

Deputy Director of Public Health Dr Fran McGrath warns that seasonal influenza and the new H1N1 influenza will be mild to moderate for most people but may be serious for some people and they should seek advice either from Healthline 0800 611 116 or their GP – but phone ahead first.

The numbers

The cumulative total of confirmed cases in New Zealand is now 86 up from 71 yesterday. Of these, 66 are current cases being treated in isolation. There are also 17 probable cases.

There are 15 new confirmed cases of the new H1N1 influenza today. They are:

In Auckland:
• a 53-year-old
• a 4-year-old girl

In Rotorua:
• a 45-year-old man

In Tauranga:
• a 19-year-old woman
• a further person, whose details were unavailable at the time of this update

In Wellington:
• a 20-year-old
• a 19-year-old man
• a 19-year-old woman
• a 24-year-old man
• a 30-year-old woman

In Christchurch:
• a 13-year-old boy
• a 48-year-old woman
• a 21-year-old woman
• a 2-year-old boy
• a 36-year-old woman

Travellers

The Ministry has refined advice to international travellers arriving in New Zealand. Better information about the incubation period of the disease means that only people with flu-like symptoms within four days of travel are now considered to be at risk of the new influenza H1N1.

Public Health professionals are present at the border and information is being provided to travellers.

Advice for workplaces

For most workplaces it is business as usual and staff should only stay home if they have flu-like symptoms or if they have received medical advice to stay home. Generally, if a staff member is suspected of having new H1N1 influenza, public health staff will assess them and advise on appropriate action.

How to protect yourself and others
• Signs and symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue. Some people also experience diarrhoea and vomiting.
• Try to avoid contact with sick people and reduce time spent in crowded settings.
• Sick people should stay home until they are well, rather than going to school or work.
• 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. Most people will be able to safely recover at home.
• You should seek medical advice if necessary (by phone first), for example if you have a serious underlying health condition or your condition worsens. This is particularly important for people with underlying medical conditions who are at greater risk of developing complications from influenza. If you need medical advice, please phone Healthline 0800 611 116 in the first instance, or your GP. Do not turn up at a hospital or medical centre before doing this as you can spread germs to other people.
• If you are caring for someone with the flu, watch for signs that they may need further medical attention, including: difficulty breathing, chest pain, blueness around the lips, inability to keep fluids down, becoming less alert or developing confusion. More information can be found on the Victorian Health website (http://humanswineflu.health.vic.gov.au/public/what_to_expect.htm) and Centre for Disease Control website (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm)
• Be prepared - This is the time for people to make sure they’re prepared to be self-sufficient for an extended period of time, should they need to. This means you should have enough food water and basic medical supplies including paracetamol or ibuprofen, as well as regular medications, nappies for babies, cleaning products, tissues and bathroom supplies for at least a week.
• 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
• Checklists and advice on how individuals and families can prepare for a pandemic are available on the Ministry of Health's website: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/pandemicinfluenza-resources-factsheets

International Update from the World Health Organization
On Friday, WHO 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.

The WHO website is expected to be updated this evening. As of 07:00 GMT, 12 June 2009, 74 countries have officially reported 29,669 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 145 deaths.

The breakdown of the number of laboratory-confirmed cases by country is given in the following table and map.

Map of the spread of Influenza A(H1N1): number of laboratory confirmed cases and deaths [png 203kb]

As at 5am AEST on 15 June, the number of confirmed cases in Australia was 1542, with 1011 of these cases in Victoria.

Updates on the Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak are available on the WHO website on a regular basis (http://www.who.int)

Unless where otherwise specified, this information can be attributed to Dr Fran McGrath, Deputy Director of Public Health.

ENDS

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