Cases of H1N1 spreading rapidly 

Source: Reuters

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The Ministry of Health has confirmed H1N1 flu is spreading rapidly in New Zealand, adding the rise in the number of cases is likely to continue for months.

There are now 825 confirmed cases, a jump of 114 in the past 24 hours.

However the number of confirmed cases is only a small proportion of the total number of people with the virus.

Testing to confirm the disease is now only be carried out in the most severe cases and many people with mild doses aren't aware it's what they've got.

Wellington remains the country's "swine flu capital" with 275 confirmed cases, recording a higher rate of hospital admissions with swine flu than the Australian state of Victoria.

Canterbury has 105 and Auckland 71.

Meanwhile, the government has been advised to stockpile a new swine flu vaccine.

Drug makers are gearing up to make vaccines against the virus and this week the University of Queensland (UQ) said it had produced Australia's first batch.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says a vaccine would not be available for use for some months.

"The government has had a recommendation from officials with respect to not having a national vaccination campaign, but having a stock of vaccine that could be used for front line health workers if need be," he says.

"However, any vaccine will have to wait licence and approval so it could not be used until late in the year."

The World Health Organisation estimates vaccine makers could produce up to 4.9 billion pandemic flu shots a year at most.

More than 70,893 cases in 190 countries have been recorded, along with 311 deaths.