Swine flu outbreak

Several Otago secondary schools are out of pocket because Japanese schools have cancelled short-term student exchanges in the wake of the swine-flu pandemic.

The number of confirmed cases of swine flu in New Zealand has topped 300, the Ministry of Health says.

Health officials are becoming increasingly concerned that swine flu, which has killed 180 people worldwide, could become resistant to Tamiflu.

The South's low population and a smaller volume of international air travel may be the reasons why there are no confirmed cases of swine flu in Otago and Southland, deputy director of public health Dr Darren Hunt said yesterday.

A Lower Hutt woman tonight remains in critical condition with swine flu in Wellington Hospital's intensive care unit.

The Employers and Manufacturers Association has suggested employers pay quarantined workers sick leave, despite the murky legal situation.

A pharmacists' organisation wants members of the profession included in regional health planning to combat swine flu, alongside front line medical staff.

Police say they have no further cases of swine flu at their Porirua training college.

Health officials say they have no plans for Prime Minister John Key to issue an "epidemic notice" - a key legal step to trigger special powers for regional medical officers of health.

Public concern over swine flu has swamped the Healthline advice call centre and St John's is being roped in to help out, Health Minister Tony Ryall said today.

The swine flu hotline should offer fax and email alternatives for the hearing impaired, the National Foundation for the Deaf (NFD) says.

The number of confirmed swine flu cases has risen by nearly two dozen in the past 24 hours to reach 109 and is expected to rise further tonight, the Ministry of Health says.

A second police recruit had tested positive for swine flu.

There have been seven new confirmed cases of swine flu in New Zealand since yesterday.