Students Trip To Mexico Brings Mexican Swine Flu To New Zealand

On Tuesday New Zealand’s minister of health, Tony Ryall confirmed what had been feared for the last several days. That ten students and one teacher’s trip of a lifetime really was the trip of a lifetime. After arriving back in New Zealand from Mexico, these students and teacher were tested for the swine flu virus and these tests came back positive.

The group of students infected with the swine flu virus that originated in Mexico is from the Rangitoto College in Auckland and there infection has put New Zealand on national alert. The students and their professor took a 3 week trip to Mexico and even had a layover in Los Angeles on their way back to New Zealand.

This among many other similar situations points out the pandemic threat that the Mexican flu could bring. These students were in Mexico, then touched down in Los Angles, most likely causing infection there, and then went back to their homeland of New Zealand where they again probably infected people within their own country. It is important however to note that everyone in New Zealand that has been infected had recently visited Mexico or the U.S.A. Health officials are indeed taking the proper steps though in seeking out and contacting every single passenger that flew on the same flight as the infected individuals.

Tony Ryall confirmed that each of the swine virus infected individuals has been quarantined to their home and that they are being treated with Tamiflu, an antiviral drug. The good news however is that all of the infected people are said to be in good condition and recovering without any complications.

Beyond these eleven cases Ryall voiced his concern to the New Zealand parliament in Wellington by alerting them that there are 56 other potential swine flu cases throughout the rest of the country. Nearly all of these 56 cases have tested positive for the influenza A strain which means that they could be the swine flu or the regular human strain A flu. Any positive test for the regular strain A human flu is being forwarded to a laboratory in Melbourne, Australia where they can be tested for the swine flue.

Other regions where suspected cases of the swine flu are include Hamilton, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Canterbury, Otago, and Nelson.

In order to help prevent infected people from entering the country New Zealand health officials are now screening all patients that arrive from the Americas by giving them a medical examination and requiring that they leave contact information in case they are found to have been in contact with other infected individuals.

Finally, the New Zealand government is now suggesting that none of their citizens travel to Mexico except for under extremely urgent or emergency circumstances