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The student at the centre of the Westlake Girls High School swine flu outbreak had been in contact with nearly 200 people, the school said today.
Meanwhile, a second police recruit – a 30-year-old woman - has also tested positive for the H1N1 virus. Police said 50 recruits at the training college in Porirua are now in isolation.
The case takes New Zealand's tally of confirmed cases to 72.
Some 450 Year 12 Westlake Girls High School students were yesterday sent into home isolation for the week after a student, 16, was confirmed with swine flu. It was Auckland's first case not directly linked to overseas travel.
School principal Alison Gernhoefer told the Herald the student confirmed as having the virus had been in contact with "going on for 200" people.
"And when the Ministry of Health started checking on these kids a significant proportion of these kids were not feeling too good," she said.
Ms Gernhoefer said she was in constant contact with the ministry over the weekend.
"At first it sounded as if it was going to be OK, but as the day went on and they checked more and more contacts on the list they realised that a significant number had symptoms of a flu – they had sniffles and coughs and whatnot - and this is why the ministry thought it was really important that we cut the contact."
Ms Gernhoefer said a week off school was a "serious thing" for students in busy part of the school year, but the school would be placing work on an "e-learning" system that pupils could access at home.
She said the students were not meant to be having a week long break and the intention was that the students would be "remote learning".
At least five teachers who had been in contact with the student have been asked to stay at home for the four-day incubation period. The Ministry of Health also recommended the school give pregnant teachers a week's leave.
Sharp rise in cases
The number of cases has risen sharply, from 43 on Saturday to 71 by last night, but Health Minister Tony Ryall said the authorities were working to contain the spread as much as possible.
"This is a rapidly changing situation, with cases increasing exponentially both here and in many states of Australia," he said.
Health officials predict more than two million New Zealanders will get swine flu in the next two years.
The Ministry of Health is urging people who suspect they have the flu - either swine or seasonal - to seek medical advice over the phone.
"I don't think your work mates or your school mates would be happy if you're spreading it around," Mr Ryall told NZPA.
"(And) you don't want to put people with flu symptoms in with a whole lot of other people turning up at GP clinics.
"You can imagine what it would be like if everyone with flu symptoms turned up at the hospital."
Other cases of swine flu include 14 in Christchurch's Samoan community, a female tourist who had been on the Kiwi Experience bus and a 33-year-old man in Wellington who had not recently travelled or been in touch with anyone who had.
Fifty students and teachers at Burnside High School in Christchurch have also been quarantined after a 13-year-old boy attended school with symptoms.
His four-year-old brother attended Tino e Tasi Pre-School with flu symptoms and nine other preschoolers there had since tested positive.
* What you need to know
Wash and dry your hands frequently or use a cleanser such as an alcohol-based gel.
Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and dispose of the tissue in a rubbish bin with a lid or plastic bag.
Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue.
If you develop symptoms, phone your GP or Healthline (0800-611-116) for advice, or visit www.moh.govt.nz.
Parents of students who become sick should contact the Auckland Regional Public Health Service Flu Line on 0800-358-546.
Ring before you go to a hospital or health centre because of the risk that you will infect other people already there.
- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: Lincoln Tan, Isaac Davison and agencies
