TV3 News update for Fri, 01 May 2009 1:51p.m:
https://www.3news.co.nz/Video/New-drug-purchased-to-tackle-swine-flu/tabid/309/articleID/102155/cat/64/Default.aspx#video
To summarise:
There are only 3 confirmed cases and no deaths.
Probable number of cases 13. The WHO needs to do more tests.
Suspected number is 136
The Swine flu Hotline is 0800-611-116
Health Minister wants to keep name “swine flu” even though people have been talking about changing the name.
The news mentioned that samples from the confirmed NZ cases are going to be used to make a vaccine by an Australian company. Dr Mark Jacobs said it will take 6-8 months to develop a vaccine.
The government has ordered +125,000 more flu shot for this year, so the total will be 925,000 flu shots.
There are 40 people in isolation being treated with Tamiflu.
It was also mentioned that a new drug has been purchased, a puffer called Relenza. Refer:
New drug purchased to tackle swine flu
Tony Ryall
Fri, 01 May 2009 1:51p.m.
The Government has purchased a new drug to combat swine flu and increased its existing vaccine order as possible swine flu cases in New Zealand continue to grow.
Health Minister Tony Ryall said at a press conference held this morning that 125,000 courses of Relenza, an anti-viral agent similar to Tamiflu, had been ordered.
The drug is taken as a puffer instead of capsules like Tamiflu.
Officials also ruled out referring to swine flu as “influenza A (H1N1)” after the WHO changed the official name following complaints from countries whose pork exports had been damaged.
Mr Ryall said it was important to use a term the public understood.
New Zealand has three confirmed swine flu cases, 136 suspected cases and 401 people in isolation being treated with Tamiflu.