Hotels earmarked for swine flu quarantine

Health Minister Tony Ryall has praised the hard work of health professionals working on the swine flu outbreak. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Three hotels have been earmarked by health officials as quarantine and treatment facilities as part of New Zealand's preparations to handle growing cases of swine flu.

The hotels, near Auckland International Airport, were rolled into the action plan to combat the virus after officials had trouble finding somewhere to quarantine international visitors.

Last week a number of hotels refused to take visitors who needed to be quarantined after showing symptoms at the airport. A spokeswoman for the Auckland Regional Public Health Service said the three hotels came forward after reading of the refusal.

The number of confirmed swine flu cases in New Zealand has grown to four. Another 12 people are considered "probable" and a further 101 of having the virus. 388 people are in isolation.

The Rangitoto College students who featured in headlines this week came free from isolation restrictions at 5am yesterday, as Lindisfarne and Hastings Girls High settled into quarantine.

All 46 students and six teachers from the Hawke's Bay schools went into isolation after returning from a music trip in the United States on Tuesday. Four students had showed flu-like symptoms.

A New Zealander in Fiji who had travelled to Mexico is also being checked as a suspected swine flu carrier - one of two identified in the island nation.

Health Minister Tony Ryall last night praised the hard work of health professionals working on the swine flu outbreak.