Auckland, April 29 NZPA - Members of the Rangitoto College tour group to Mexico who managed to avoid swine flu are expected to be back at school tomorrow.

They return amid criticism that the Auckland school group was allowed to travel while suffering from influenza, criticism rejected by public health authorities.

Fourteen members of the 25-strong group which arrived back in New Zealand on Saturday are either confirmed or suspected to have the virus, which has caused havoc in Mexico.

Four of the group have been confirmed as having swine flu, two were confirmed today to have influenza A, of which swine flu is a strain, and another eight are expected to return positive test results.

Principal David Hodge said all were recovering well from the virus after being treated with Tamiflu and most were rid of the disease.

He told NZPA this afternoon those students who made the trip to Mexico who never contracted the disease were at this stage likely to return to school tomorrow.

"They have been tested and the tests have been negative," he said.

"They have been given Tamiflu and have been in quarantine for the last five days but at this stage they should be back tomorrow."

Those who have contracted the disease at some stage were mostly recovered and some were free of it but they are not likely to return until next week.

"They can come back tomorrow, although the majority are thinking they will delay that to Monday, just out of deference to any people in the school community that may have concerns."

Julia Peters, from the Auckland Regional Public Health Service, said today the group had been vigilant about trying to prevent further infections and should be allowed to seamlessly return to their normal lives.

"There has been some comment that students have been blamed for bringing this into New Zealand. I think that would be most unfortunate," she told a media conference.

"They should not be blamed for that, in fact I think we should be thanking them and their families for cooperating with the advice they were given.

"When they are released from quarantine we need to accept they are not infectious."

Dr Peters said the group needed to be able to return to school without questions being asked about whether they should be back among the community.

Mr Hodge said there was always the possibility of adverse reaction. He had received one email saying school groups never used to travel overseas and such trips should not happen because they were risky.

"You are always going to get people who want to find someone to blame," he said.

"But I think the school and the authorities have reacted very well to this, and the kids will become stronger and more resilient as a result of this."

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