Pacific islands no escape from H1N1 virus infection

HONG KONG, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The island nation of Vanuatu has recorded its first two cases of influenza A/H1N1 on Thursday, becoming the latest Pacific country hit by the epidemic after New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and French Polynesia.

Vanuatu's Ministry of Health said that two children, both aged five from two separate communities in the capital of Port Vila, were found with the virus, the Pacnews reported.

The confirmation came from tests conducted in the World Health Organization (WHO) influenza reference laboratory in Melbourne after 65 samples were sent there.

"These two children were brought to the hospital with mild flu-like symptoms three weeks ago to the Vila Central Hospital and throat swab samples were collected," it said.

"They have now totally recovered. No serious cases of sick people have been found in their families or in nearby communities," said the statement.

Fiji's Ministry of Health has confirmed three more new cases ofA/H1N1, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to five on Thursday.

The three new cases were being treated at their respective homes and are all stable. Two women and a man were confirmed in Suva, Lautoka and Nadi. Two of the three new cases have a history of recent travel, the Ministry of Health said.

The National Testing Facilities at Mataika House in Tamavua has to date received 116 specimens from sites in Suva, Lautoka, Nadi and Labasa.

Australian Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon announced the country had 3,199 officially confirmed cases of A/H1N1 flu as of Thursday afternoon. In an update to reporters, Roxon said 168 of those people had been hospitalized, with 36 still in hospital and 13 in intensive care. Three Australians have died from A/H1N1 flu - one in South Australia and two in Victoria.

Brunei has confirmed four more new cases of A/H1N1 flu, bringing the total cases to 11. According to Brunei newspapers on Thursday, the four cases, confirmed on Wednesday, included two local transmitted patients, a six-year-old boy and a one-year-old girl. While the other two imported cases involved a 23-year-old woman who visited Kuala Lumpur, and a nine-year-old girl who returned to Brunei from Johor, Malaysia.

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