Authorities are appealing for the public to accept the 25 Rangitoto College people at the centre of New Zealand's swine flu outbreak back into the community without question.
Voluntary home quarantine ended overnight for those who started taking Tamiflu capsules on Sunday night - which is most of the group - so they can go to school today.
Threatening texts, unpleasant emails and an aggressive internet message have been directed at the group. The mother of one student said her family felt under attack.
Auckland's top public health official, Dr Julia Peters, said it was "most unfortunate" that the group, which returned on Saturday from a trip to Mexico, had been blamed for bringing the new flu to New Zealand.
"They should not be blamed for that. In fact I think we should be thanking them and their families for co-operating with the advice they were given, for staying at home and remaining in isolation.
"We also need, when they are released from quarantine, to accept that they are not infectious, they are cured, and they need to be able to go back to school without questions asked about them [like] whether they are spreading this in the community, because they won't be."
Rangitoto principal David Hodge said last night many of the families who had had flu symptoms were reportedly feeling much better and keen to resume their normal lives.
But most of those who were feeling well had decided they would stay home for a few more days as they did not want to face people questioning why they were back at school or work.
Mr Hodge said he had noted some animosity towards the school from people outside it.
There had been some unpleasant emails from external people and a comment referring to "pig Aids" appeared on a Rangitoto College group page on social networking site Facebook.
Mr Hodge said there would always be "one or two" who would make comments to spur a reaction and if it became more than one or two he would see it as a problem.
Swine flu: 'Don't blame the sick students'
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