Ten New Zealand school children who recently returned from Mexico have tested positive for influenza and are “likely” to have the potentially fatal swine flu, the country’s Health Minister revealed today.

Tony Ryall said that samples from the infected students had been sent to a World Health Organisation laboratory in the Australian city of Melbourne to determine whether they had contracted H1N1 swine influenza. The teenagers have already tested positive for influenza A, of which swine flu is a sub-set.

“Ministry of Health officials advise me there is no guarantee these students have swine influenza, but they consider it likely,” the minister said.

“I am also informed none of the affected patients is considered seriously ill, and most in fact seem to be on the road to recovery.”

The new hybrid strain of swine flu has broken out in Mexico, and is feared to have killed more than 80 people. The World Health Organisation (WHO) warning of “pandemic potential”.

The 10 New Zealand suspected cases were among a group of three teachers and 22 senior students from Rangitoto College in Auckland who returned home yesterday after a three-week trip to Mexico.

Thirteen students and one teacher had displayed flu-like symptoms and were quarantined in their homes while undergoing tests. One student spent last night in hospital but has since been discharged.

“I think it is important to recognise the concern that we have and the deaths that have been reported from Mexico,” said Darren Hunt, the deputy director of public health in New Zealand.

Supplies of the medication Tamiflu have been released to treat the students, and although its effectiveness on swine flu was not yet confirmed reports from Mexico indicated it was effective, Mr Hunt said.

David Hodge, the principal of Rangitoto College, said the students, aged 15-18, had spent most of their time in Mexico City on a Spanish language trip.

“We’ve got real concern and our feelings go out to the students and their families and it’s a very difficult and worrying time for them,” he said.

“But also I guess that we’re very proud that the staff and the families took the matter seriously right at the beginning.”

He understood the health ministry was monitoring and testing all the students, even the ones who had not shown any symptoms.

“Everything that should be done and could be done is being done to make sure that if anybody’s infected then the authorities will know about it and they’ll get the proper treatment.”

New Zealand’s foreign ministry has issued a travel health notice for Mexico, California and Texas, where swine flu cases have been confirmed.

It advised anyone who had recently travelled to these areas and developed flu-like symptoms to seek immediate medical attention.

The Rangitoto school party returned to New Zealand from Mexico via Los Angeles.

Two other New Zealand school parties are known to be in Mexico but neither has reported any students contracting a flu-like illness.

The country’s health ministry is implementing the early stages of its pandemic response plan, and is liaising with the WHO and Australian health officials.

Source: Times Online

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