Health officials prepare for second wave of swine flu

Health officials are preparing for a second wave of swine flu, as the anniversary of the first cases arriving in New Zealand rolls around, however, Australia's chief medical officer is advising doctors to stop giving the seasonal flu vaccine to young children.

It is a year since a group of school children arrived back in New Zealand after falling ill with suspected swine flu while on a trip to South America. So far this year, only four cases of the H1N1 virus have been confirmed in New Zealand.

Deputy Director of Public Health Darren Hunt says the fact that a lot more people are have been immunised against influenza this year should help.

"We're doing a lot of planning for a possible second wave this year. We're anticipating it's not going to be as large as last year. Basically, we want people to keep doing the things that they have been doing."

More than 800,000 doses of the vaccine have been given out this flu season. Mr Hunt says the campaign to improve general hygiene last year helped to contain the spread of the virus.

In Australia, there have been several cases of children suffering serious reactions from the flu injection and GPs are being advised not to immunise children under the age of five.

- NEWSTALK ZB