Tamiflu restrictions in Wellington

Wellington has restricted the anti-viral drug Tamiflu to those experiencing severe symptoms of swine flu as the virus puts health services under pressure.

As the number of confirmed swine flu cases jumped by 26 to 153 yesterday the Ministry of Health said it was planning a change in tact to "manage it" rather than focusing solely on containment.

Regional Public Health medical officer Stephen Palmer told the Dominion Post Wellington had 51 confirmed cases, 16 of which were reported in within 48 hours.

Health services had been overwhelmed with calls from people reporting suspected cases of swine flu.

"We have been humungously busy, under enormous pressure and over-inundated with calls.

"We have had to get additional GPs and, because of the pressure, have not even had time to train them properly and supervise them."

As testing centres succumbed to the volume of work it was no longer possible to distribute Tamiflu with the same freedom as during the initial outbreak.

"Only so many tests can be done in one day. If people are unwell they should stay home.

"Only those with severe symptoms or serious health conditions will be given Tamiflu," Dr Palmer said.

"We are in the last gasps of containment and moving into the next stage of management."

The Health Ministry, Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and ProCare Health announced yesterday a national phone advice service was being set up for GPs to help manage the rising number of cases.

Meanwhile, Rotorua Boys' High School has 200 year 11 students quarantined at home for four days after two had tested positive for swine flu.

Principal Chris Grinter said the partial school closure had been ordered by health authorities.

Officials have begun calling on households to prepare for the virus' spread in the same way as they would for a civil defence emergency.

"Up to half of our population could become unwell in the next few months," Canterbury District Health Board chief medical officer Nigel Millar said yesterday.

He said aid groups and emergency services would only have resources to help those with nowhere else to turn.

"Individuals, families and community groups of all types need to be prepared to look after themselves and each other."

People should plan to have all they would need if they had to stay at home for seven days.

And friends, neighbours and relatives should be asked if they would be available to help if needed.

Most people with the flu needed to stay away from school or work for about a week.

- NZPA