12 June 2009 - The Tairawhiti district is today clear of any possible cases and still has not had any confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1). From midday today there should also be no-one in isolation or quarantine.

Yesterday evening we were informed from the virus laboratory in Christchurch that one of our possible cases was positive for Influenza A, but after further testing this morning this turned out to be one of the Influenza A viruses that is always circulating in our communities and not the H1N1 type.

Dr Geoff Cramp says "It is good news that we still have not had a single confirmed case of H1N1 influenza A in our district. The fact that we have had a normal flu case indicates that people should always be aware that we can catch viruses."

"The most important thing we can do to protect ourselves is regular and effective hand washing. When coughing or sneezing cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Afterwards promptly dispose of the tissue and wash your hands," said Dr Cramp.

Symptoms of influenza include: Sudden onset of illness Fever above 38 degrees Celsius Fatigue Muscle pains Runny nose/cough/sore throat In some cases, people also have vomiting and diarrhoea. The current national advice for people coming home from overseas is that they can return to work or school if they are well. This includes all occupations such as health care workers, school students, and all work places in our community.

The only requirement is to stay off school or work is if the person has become unwell.

People returning from overseas should be aware that illness may develop so they should be ready to take their children off school, or to be in a position to stay off work at very short notice, if they become unwell.

If people become unwell after coming from overseas and think they may have the flu they should stay at home and phone their GP.

Dr Cramp says "the only time people need to be concerned that they may have the Influenza A (H1N1) virus is when they have been ovreseas and they get symptoms within 7 days of coming home or if they have had very close contact with someone who has definitely had the virus and so far no one in our district has had the virus"

"The H1N1 virus is really a very mild illness so people can be reassured that the virus is not much more than the common cold at the moment and it actually causes less complications and hospital admissions than the normal flu."

"However it is important that we minimise the spread of the virus as it could substantially disrupt schools and workplaces as significant numbers of people are away sick at any one period of time. This is the real issue with H1N1 as opposed to other normal seasonal flu viruses.

"Otherwise it is business as usual in the Tairawhiti district. The World Health Organisation has stated that a global pandemic is underway and we are ready to respond when we need to do so."