Sunday, February 12, 2012

Suspected flu outbreak on plane #H5N1 #BIRDFLU #FLU



Medical staff are on board an Air New Zealand plane from Japan that landed this morning at Auckland International Airport with 73 passengers suffering flu-like symptoms.
The medics are assessing the passengers to decide how they will be treated and the city's hospitals are on standby for an influx of patients.
A St John ambulance spokeswoman said the passengers are believed to have contracted the H3N2 virus currently spreading throughout Japan.
The plane landed from Tokyo at 9.20am and St John ambulance staff were alerted by Aviation Security Services.
A St John ambulance spokesman said two crews were on the aircraft wearing protective gear while they carried out the assessments. All 274 passengers are remaining on board while that is done.

Initial reports said the sick passengers were New Zealand children returning home from a school trip, but the St John spokesman said that had not been verified.
Further medical staff and several ambulances are on standby at the airport.
The spokesman said Aviation Security Services staff were working to identify two safe, well-ventilated areas at the airport where passengers could be taken. If passengers needed to be moved through crowds, that would also be done with caution.
Large numbers of masks were being taken to the airport for passengers.
If large numbers of passengers needed to be taken to hospital from the airport, it was likely a bus would be used to move them.
It is not known if the remaining passengers will need to be quarantined, or be tracked once they leave the aircraft.
Air New Zealand is following public health procedures and has advised the Auckland Regional Public Health Service.
A Counties Manukau District Health Board manager said all hospitals were "contingency planning" in case they were required to take passengers although would not give details of what those plans were.
By 11am about 60 people were waiting at the arrival gate for people on the flight.
A public announcement had been made, saying the plane had been delayed due to flu-like symptoms.
Graeme Smith from Howick was awaiting the arrival of his daughter and four-year-old granddaughter and said he was concerned for their health.
Some of those on the plane are understood to be tourists hoping to catch connecting flights, including ones to Rotorua and Christchurch. http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/loca...break-on-plane

No comments: