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An electron microscope image shows an A H1N1 "swine flu" virus culture obtained from a California patient suffering from the international flu outbreak - Source: Reuters -
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Two more Christchurch primary schools have now closed due to H1N1 flu.
Aranui Primary School Principal Chris Nord says his school has been advised to close until Monday after a student tested positive for swine flu.
He says they've been experiencing high levels of absenteeism, on Wednesday 110 students out of 225 were away from school and some teachers off sick.
Wainoni Primary school has also been closed.
Both schools are understood to be closed until Monday when the situation will be reviewed.
Bromley Primary School, also in Christchurch closed on Tuesday for a week.
Meanwhile, the number of swine flu cases keeps growing in New Zealand and it won't be long before the health ministry will give up trying to contain the virus, and move to managing it instead.
The national total of confirmed cases, has now crept up to 127, with an additional 20 probable cases.
Health officials say, the focus will shift to managing swine flu, with people looking after themselves at home, and only the most serious cases, requiring special attention.
Across the tasman, quarantine controls are being relaxed, because health authorities have agreed, the disease isn't as severe, as first thought.
Australia is now adopting a new pandemic alert level, targetting only those, most vulnerable.
Keeping children out of school won't be compulsory, and anti-virals will be limited, to more serious cases.
Rimutaka Prison
A Rimutaka Prison unit housing about 50 inmates has been put in quarantine over a suspected outbreak of H1N1.
Corrections Department health manager Bridget White says that three inmates in the low security unit were sick with suspected influenza A (H1N1) and had been isolated in their cells at the direction of public health officials. One had been tested so far.
"Any prisoner confirmed as being infected will be treated with Tamiflu," she told the Dominion Post.
Other unit inmates had been segregated from the rest of the prison.
