Northern Territory Deals with Potential Swine Flu Case
Thursday April 30, 2009
Northern Territory has a suspected case of swine flu after a woman who had just returned from a trip to North America showed symptoms.
The woman was feeling unwell after she returned from her trip to the Americas and reported to a Darwin health clinic.
A string of tests were carried out and the samples were flown to a specialist Melbourne laboratory for testing, with the results expected soon.
The woman as advised to go straight home and stay indoors.
Airports throughout Australia are on alert for passengers showing signs of the flu.
Experts are saying it is inevitable the pandemic will reach Australia.
But the Territory's Centre for Disease Control reassured that the May 9-17 Arafura Games in Darwin won't be cancelled.
Centre director Vicki Krause said she had no intention of taking the sporting carnival off the agenda.
The 2003 Games were cancelled because of the SARS outbreak in Asia.
Dr Krause said her staff would continue to liaise with Game's organisers and up until the lead-up and throughout the nine days of the Arafura Games.
Swine flu, named after the fact the flu originates from pigs produces symptoms that include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
