Media Release
26 August 2009
Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 Swine Flu - Update 143
The amount of influenza in the community continues to decline as winter draws to a close, but health officials say
people should continue the good hygiene habits they have developed in order to reduce their chance of getting and
spreading influenza as well as a myriad of other infections which circulate all year.
Pandemic influenza (H1N1) 09 swine flu has been the dominant influenza strain in New Zealand this winter and although it
looks to be abating as the weather warms up, it is unlikely to disappear completely.
Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr Fran McGrath says this virus will continue to cause influenza because most of us
have not been exposed to the virus and have no immunity to it.
She says, "People have really taken heed of the tried and true hygiene messages - cover coughs and sneezes, wash your
hands often and stay home if you are sick. These simple action appear to have helped delay the spread of this virus and
lessened the impact of this pandemic on our communities.This really is an example of people being concerned for each
other and working together as a community to protect one another."
The hard work of health practitioners, District Health Boards (DHBs), border control agencies and wider communities
helped contain this pandemic influenza and delay its initial spread by six or seven weeks. This enabled plans to be put
in place to ensure people would get the services they needed, and health services would be able to manage the increased
patient load.
Dr McGrath says,"The health sector has done that very well overall. DHBs report there has been less gridlock in
hospitals than expected, and we hear there are fewer absences from schools and work places."
Continuing good hygiene habits of covering coughs and sneezes, hand washing and staying at home while sick will limit
the spread of most communicable diseases, including measles, meningitis and skin infections.
Dr McGrath says the focus is now on planning to be ready for any increase in cases in the coming months, and ensuring
health services can respond rapidly if the virus becomes more widespread or more virulent.
Latest Numbers
There are a total of 3114 confirmed cases of Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 swine flu, up from 3106 when last reported on
Monday. These are people who have returned a positive laboratory test for pandemic influenza (H1N1) 09. The actual
number of cases of Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 will be significantly higher, as only a small proportion of people with
symptoms are being tested. This is because for most people, it's a mild illness and they recover readily at home without
needing medical treatment.
As mentioned above, the number of deaths from Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) swine flu is now 16. These are deaths where
swine flu was a primary cause. Other deaths are being investigated by the Coroner's office.
Numbers of people in hospitals with the Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09
As at midday today, a total of10 people are reported to be in hospital with Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 or its
complications, including six people in intensive care.
The number of patients currently in intensive care with confirmed Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 broken down by region is
as follows:
Auckland (2), Waitemata (1), Wellington (1), Canterbury (2).
School absences
In general, schools are reporting usual levels of absence for this time of year, while only a minority of schools are
reporting either lower or higher levels.
Healthline Calls
Healthline has continued to receive a high number of influenza-related calls over the past week, although numbers have
decreased since peaks in mid-June and early July. The total number of calls answered by Healthline nurses continues to
be about 20 percent above normal levels.
GP Consultations
The data below are from Environmental Science and Research's (ESR) sentinel general practice surveillance system. It
shows that at its peak, the weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rates this year were nearly three times
higher than the winter peak experienced in the last two years. The number of ILI consultations has decreased over recent
weeks, but there are different pictures of influenza activity across regions and across some age groups.
Australian Situation
For the number of confirmed cases in Australia, go to the Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing
website at:
http://www.healthemergency.gov.au/internet/healthemergency/publishing.nsf/Content/updates
International Update from the World Health Organization
The WHO reports that transmission of the pandemic influenza (H1N1) 09 virus is declining globally, especially in
temperate regions of the southern hemisphere (with the exception of South Africa). Active transmission is still seen in
some later affected areas of Australia, Chile and Argentina even as national rates decrease.
The virus continues to spread in the northern hemisphere, although areas first affected by the virus are seeing less
activity. Areas of tropical Asia are reporting increasing rates of illness
The H1N1 virus is now the dominant influenza strain in most parts of the world, and is expected to remain so during the
coming northern hemisphere influenza season.
The World Health Organization is no longer issuing tables showing the numbers of confirmed cases for all countries.
This is because in many countries, laboratory testing is being carried out on only a small number of people and the
numbers of confirmed cases no longer give an accurate picture of spread the spread and extent of the virus. For more
information about this reporting change go to the WHO website: http://www.who.int/en/
ENDS