Police in Mexico take precautions against Swine Flu.

Wellington, April 27 NZPA - Suspected swine flu cases were being monitored in Hamilton, Nelson and Otago, Health Minister Tony Ryall said today as more people waited for test results on the potentially deadly virus.

They include 10 people from Auckland's Rangitoto College, who have tested positive for influenza A, and three more from Northcote College whose results were expected tonight.

Swine flu, which by late today had caused 103 deaths in Mexico, is in the same family as the influenza A strain.

It will not be known until later this week, when test results come back from Melbourne, whether any of them have swine flu.

Mr Ryall said those who had tested positive for influenza A were all responding well to treatment and their cases had been relatively mild.

"Regional public health authorities are reporting that there are suspected cases which they are monitoring in Hamilton, Nelson and Otago at this stage," he said at a press conference with Prime Minister John Key.

"The Government is concerned, we are taking a precautionary approach."

Mr Key said that so far only a few people who had travelled to affected areas had shown symptoms, and they had been mild.

"The only thing we have identified so far is a form of influenza," he said.

"Swine flu, which is H1N1, is yet to be confirmed."

Mr Ryall said two thirds of the passengers on Air New Zealand flight NZ1 which arrived from Los Angeles with the Rangitoto College passengers on board had now been contacted or had presented themselves to health professionals.

The Ministry of Health would soon start contacting passengers on NZ5, the flight which brought the Northcote college students home.

Both groups had been in Mexico.

The ministry's latest report said the Rangitoto College staff member admitted to hospital with flu symptoms had been discharged.

"All passengers from all flights arriving in New Zealand from the Americas are being screened on arrival," the ministry said.

"Of around 1000 passengers, two were actively screened, meaning they had reported symptoms to either their air crew or ground staff."

They were examined but were found not to be suspected cases.

Mr Key said the health services had responded quickly to the situation, and in a way that was appropriate to the level of risk.

"This is a risk we have been preparing for, we've done a lot of planning in the last four years and we've exercised for this eventuality," he said.

Apart from Mexico, cases of swine flu have now been confirmed or are suspected in countries including the United States, Canada, Spain, France, Israel and Brazil.

Waikato District Health Board was investigating two possible cases of swine flu today.

These people and their household contacts were being tested to determine whether they have influenza A and both are being isolated within their homes until the test results come back within the next 24 hours.

The board said both fitted the case definition for swine flu, and had returned from the US within the past two weeks.

West Coast District Health Board said it was aware of four passengers from the West Coast who were on flight NZ1 on Saturday, the same fight as the party from Rangitoto College.

The four people were currently in voluntary home quarantine and being offered Tamiflu as prophylaxis.

The Health Ministry said it was important that people who had travelled to Mexico or North America in the past fortnight should contact Healthline (0800 611 116) for information. They should seek medical advice if they displayed flu-like symptoms.

The College of GPs said that people developing flu symptoms should phone their GP first, rather than just turn up to the general practice.

College president and Meadowbank GP Dr Jonathan Fox said today if a patient turned up with flu-like symptoms into a crowded waiting room, there was immediate risk the virus would spread.

"When you ring the general practice, tell the receptionist you have flu-like symptoms and want to speak to your GP or the person who is taking such calls," Dr Fox said.

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