only 7 deaths worldwide, page-24

Siobhain Ryan | April 29, 2009
Article from: The Australian
SUSPECTED cases of swine flu have spread to every state and territory in the country, with 91 people across Australia now in isolation, awaiting test results for the deadly A/H1N1 virus.

The latest federal health department figures, issued at 11am, reports the largest number of suspected infections in Queensland, at 31 cases, followed by 19 in Victoria, 14 in South Australia, 10 in New South Wales, eight in Western Australia, six in the Australian Capital Territory, two in Tasmania and one in the Northern Territory.

None of the cases has yet returned a positive swab for the disease, which is now confirmed in eight countries, including near neighbour New Zealand.

The search for 22 Australians on a flight from Los Angeles carrying up to 10 infected New Zealanders continues, as the nation enters its first full day on heightened pandemic alert status.

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon upgraded the status to "delay’’ last night, after securing Governor-General Quentin Bryce’s approval to enact sweeping quarantine powers to counter the new, hybrid influenza strain.