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A team of Australian scientists has appropriated samples of swine flu taken from the Rangitoto College group, to help develop a vaccine.
Scientists at the World Health Organisation Influenza Centre in North Melbourne are injecting the virus taken from the New Zealanders into fertilised hens' eggs.
The samples were sent to the laboratory by New Zealand health officials, desperate to find out whether the group had contracted swine flu in Mexico.
Tests on the best four samples immediately showed three of them were infected, and it was this virus which was used by the Melbourne laboratory. The fourth sample was of poorer quality.
After cultivating the virus in the eggs, the Melbourne researchers will conduct a series of tests, then send it off to companies that manufacture vaccines, centre director Anne Kelso says.
An effective vaccine would be worth millions of dollars if the influenza continues to cause serious illness internationally.
New Zealand already has a contract with the Australian government's Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) to be supplied with a pandemic vaccine within 15 to 27 weeks after a pandemic is recognised by the WHO.
Professor Kelso says the US is leading the international race for a vaccine, using viruses from Californian patients.
The number of suspected cases of swine flu in New Zealand has risen to 111, up from 96.
The Ministry of Health says that the number of people in isolation was also up from 111 to 121.
But the number of people confirmed or being treated as confirmed swine flu cases remained at 13, all in the Auckland area.
The growth in suspect numbers was primarily due to including close family contacts from passengers on flights from affected countries, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.
In Mexico the deaths of 160 people have been blamed on swine flu, although Mexican health officials say the number of confirmed swine flu cases is only 99, including eight dead.
The WHO has declared a Phase 5 outbreak, the second-highest on its threat scale, indicating a pandemic could be imminent.
Thirty-three countries had now notified WHO they had either suspected or confirmed cases of swine flu.
Ryall says New Zealand has now moved its status to "phase 5.1" but said that was not an escalation of pandemic planning.
The strategy remains to contain and mitigate the spread of the flu, he said.
Of the group of students from Auckland's Rangitoto College who returned from Mexico on Saturday, three had tested positive to swine flu.
There are 10 other people being treated as swine flu cases, having tested positive for influenza A - of which swine flu is a subset.
More tests have been sent to the WHO accredited lab in Melbourne to be tested for swine flu and more influenza A results were expected shortly.
The Rangitoto College students' symptoms were reported to be no worse than normal winter flu.
Health authorities are now working on setting up a specialised influenza assessment centre at Middlemore Hospital, near Auckland's international airport.
Director-General of Health Stephen McKernan said a decision was likely over the next 24-hours on a preferred site for such a centre.
Deputy Director of Public Health Fran McGrath says scientists were monitoring any possible mutations of the flu.
The anti-viral drug Tamiflu will be available over the counter without a prescription from today to people showing signs of the flu.
Some chemists have criticised the move, saying it could be counterproductive as flu sufferers flocked to their local chemists and possibly spread it further.
Keep up to date with the latest news no matter where you are with our dedicated swine flu Twitter feed. - http://twitter.com/SwineFluInNZ PLUS Health correspondent Lorelei Mason will be keeping you in the loop on how she is covering the story as it develops - http://twitter.com/SwineFluNZNews
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Post new commentalwyn said on 2009-06-18 @ 14:34 NZDT: Report abusive post
The general flu causes between 200,000 and 250,000 deaths p.a world wide. Swine flu has caused only a fraction of this number in proportion. There is a temporary cure i.e. Tami flu until a vaccine is produced for H1N1 flu. I don't understand what all the fuss is about?
Janey said on 2009-06-16 @ 09:36 NZDT: Report abusive post
I think NZ media and health service has been far too blase about this outbreak. The UK's BBC news website has been reporting symptoms and PREVENTION for weeks and has an excellent outbreak map, which clearly shows quick acceleration of the virus. The UK's health service posted information leaflets to every home WEEKS ago. My husband works in a a business where the workers come into contact with lots tourists - they only just received a booklet on the virus 2 days ago. NZ, get with the programme!
skeptic said on 2009-06-16 @ 07:57 NZDT: Report abusive post
Thank you Mark Sainsbury for telling us the symptoms, and debunking the mythology. Many of us did not even know that we probably have the swine flu which is probably now widespread in our community. It was clear from the outset that authorities were not taking the drastic steps necessary to contain an epidemic. Since they have created an elaborate ritual to prove that they have done everything possible ... Thank God this was not a SERIOUS pandemic.
FightFlu said on 2009-05-04 @ 23:41 NZDT: Report abusive post
I absolutely agree Tis, this particular virus could have been a lot worse. Due to information technology these days we have highly accessible and up to date information to keep us informed, and with knowledge is power. As long as the people remain calm, and keep informed we should be able to keep the Swine Flu at a safe distance.
Tis said on 2009-05-02 @ 11:33 NZDT: Report abusive post
This scare could perhaps prepare us well for a more severe future pandemic - e.g. Ok, so all the focus is on Tamiflu - but what about ensuring enough antibiotics to treat secondary infections from a new influenca - and do we have enough of those machines in hospitals to help people breath when they are in acute respiratory distress - lets hope so!