by John Maslin john.maslin@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
Wanganui health authorities are investigating two further suspected swine flu cases in the district.
Wanganui's Medical Officer of Health Dr Patrick O'Connor told the Chronicle on Thursday one person in Marton had been confirmed with the virus. Now two new cases here are among several nationwide in the past day.
"We've got the seven people in Marton in isolation but we're currently giving Tamiflu to 15 people in total," Dr P said.
The other eight people are linked to the two new suspected influenza A (H1N1) cases.
"There are waiting for swab results on two other people at this stage. We expect those results back within a couple of days.
Confirmed cases of the highly contagious flu virus around the country have surpassed 30.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Health said it would continue its containment approach to swine flu in the wake of a World Health Organisation declaration of a pandemic.
Of the 30 cases currently confirmed, 10 were being treated with Tamiflu and were in isolation. The rest have recovered. There are another 10 "probable" cases awaiting confirmation.
All of the swine flu cases in New Zealand had come from people who had either come into the country from overseas, or were contracted by people in close contact with travellers who had been abroad.
But the ministry advised people not to cancel or postpone overseas trips for the July school holidays because it said it did not know what the situation would be in early July.
Health Minister Tony Ryall said just because a pandemic had been announced, New Zealanders should not be alarmed.
"New Zealand is going to carry on the way that we have and we will keep people fully informed of any changes that need to be made," Mr Ryall said.
He emphasised the WHO decision was about international spread of the illness, not severity. Cases in New Zealand were no worse than the normal winter flu. He said it was important to contain the flu as much as possible or health services could become overloaded.
General practitioners were preparing to face the issue and had requested improved access to protective masks, gloves and gowns to enable them to treat patients who may arrive at their practices with swine flu.
Seasonal flu hits up to 20 per cent, about 760,000 - New Zealanders each year. On average, 2.7 per cent of the population (156,000 people) will go to their GP because of flu each year and an estimated 95 people will die.
Because the AH1N1 swine flu virus was new to humans, it was expected to spread more widely than seasonal flu, and with potential for more people to seek medical attention.
The pandemic declaration gives regional health officials like Dr O'Connor extra powers.
These officials can require people to submit to medical examination or testing at specified times and places as well as demanding people, places, buildings, ships, vehicles, aircraft, animals or things to be tested, isolated, quarantined or disinfected as they think fit.
They can also restrict the movement of people and vehicles, set up emergency hospitals, restrict public gatherings and close any premises, except for Parliament and private homes.
The Health Act also allows these regional health officials to call on police to use reasonable force if they need that to carry out their duties.
They can require people to undergo counselling and to refrain from carrying out specified activities, going to specified places, associating with specified persons or specified classes of persons, staying at a specified residence and accepting the supervision of a named person.
More restrictive powers, such as detention or compulsory medical examination, are likely to only be exercised under a court order, though a medical officer of health could issue an interim order for detention of up to 72 hours with immediate effect.
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Two more locals in swine flu spotlight
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