Health scare at Auckland Airport

[Twoolf]

"A major health response is under way after an Air New Zealand plane landed at Auckland Airport with children with flu-like symptoms on-board.

A group of 60 passengers arrived into Auckland off NZ90 from Narita, Tokyo, this morning with the symptoms."

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/health-scare-auckland-airport-4717991

[Malcolm]

Its Summer in the Southern Hemisphire so I dont know how that would affect this.
Australia is only 4 hours away by air so here we GO

[Catbird]

This article says 73 passengers have symptoms. It also mentions that those with symptoms seem to be a group of kids who were returning from a school trip, although that hasn't been verified.

"Flight flu incident at Auckland airport" (http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/6407820/Flight-flu-incident-at-Auckland-airport)

[Twoolf]

Kind of hard to believe 1/3 of the passengers on a single flight came on board the aircraft already sick. Something fishy here. Environmental?

[Catbird]

It's hard to know how to gauge this without more details.

Some reports are now saying that the flight is quarantined. And that there's a health officer from the regional health authority on scene and there will be a statement later.

This article (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-airport/news/article.cfm?o_id=15&objectid=10785237) quotes the Health Minister.

Health Minister Tony Ryall said it was unlikely the passengers had contracted anything worse than normal seasonal flu.

"We've been briefed on the situation, and advised that it is Japan's flu season, and there are no reports of new strains of flu there. We're keeping a watching brief but have been told there's nothing to suggest it's anything other than seasonal flu."

[Malcolm]

Question of the day..........can you get "Hong Kong Flu" twice.
I had it back in the 60s and it sure has a "punch"

[Brihard]

The Kiwis are pretty damned good at quarantine. I flew in through Auckland; it's well set up to keep things from spreading. Part of their agricultural policies, actually.

[Cactus Az]

Malcom. after a bit, your immunity to a particular strain of flu wanes. So, yes, you can get Hong Kong flu,again.

[Kassy]

Kind of hard to believe 1/3 of the passengers on a single flight came on board the aircraft already sick. Something fishy here. Environmental?

The original article has been renamed (We overreacted etc) with no cases.

1/3 falling ill at the same time is very high so i would suspect other causes first with 'mass hysteria' a strong contender under there are some solid symptoms.

A couple of boys had the cold , that was all.