12 Jun 2009

PNG quarantines seven amid swine flu fears

2:11 pm on 12 June 2009

Papua New Guinea authorities have quarantined seven people returning from Australia amid suspicion that they may have contracted the H1N1 virus.

The Pacific International Hospital in the capital Port Moresby has sent samples to Brisbane laboratories for testing.

The hospital's director, Mathias Sapuri, has told the newspaper, The National, that results were expected on Saturday.

He says he fears the worst as in Port Moresby many people live in crowded places.

He says if there is an epidemic it will spread like wild fire.