15 Sep 2009

Vanuatu influenza case samples are not to Australia any more

11:23 am on 15 September 2009

A World Heath Organisation spokesperson is warning the H1N1 virus is still unpredictable in Vanuatu, even though no influenza samples have been sent to Australia for testing in five months.

At a meeting in Vanuatu, Dr Shidro Narenda used the example of New Caledonia where in one month fifteen percent of the population became infected with swine flu.

So far there have been three confirmed cases in Vanuatu, with no deaths reported.

But Dr Narenda says the country should be prepared in case there is an outbreak as recent and rapid as in New Caledonia.