NSW: Three dozen still under swine flu cloud in NSW
03 May 2009 1:26 PM
SYDNEY, May 3 AAP - Thirty-six people in NSW remain under assessment as possibly having swine flu, health authorities say.
NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant says 237 people have been assessed so far for suspected cases of human swine influenza, with 201 of them cleared after testing.
"There are currently 36 people awaiting test results," she said in a statement on Sunday.
No one in Australia has so far tested positive to swine flu.
Dr Chant said 12 passengers were assessed at Sydney airport on Sunday morning, with one meeting the suspected-case definition.
Anyone suspected of having the virus is being isolated in their home while they await test results.
Dr Chant said they were being urged to sleep in a separate room and remain at least one metre away from other people in the home.
"It is important that whilst awaiting test results people do not go to work, school or any outside events," she said.
"The anti-influenza drugs Tamiflu or Relenza will be made available to those people (who) developed symptoms less than 48 hours prior to assessment and who are suspected cases."
She urged people to remain alert to flu symptoms if they had recently returned from affected countries, especially the United States, Canada and Mexico.
"Anyone with flu-like symptoms such as fever and cough, fatigue, sore throat or a runny nose who has returned from overseas within the past seven days should first call their GP or local public health unit, or go to their emergency department," Dr Chant said.
