After the news that more than 100 people have died from swine flu in Mexico, New Zealand is now worried about travellers who have just returned from Mexico. Swine flu comes from pigs, not from eating pork. It comes at first from the animals but after that is passed from human to human. Health officials at the World Health Organisation – WHO – think that this flu could change and become a different type of flu. It could become much worse.

22 students who were studying Spanish, and three teachers from Rangitoto College in Auckland returned on Saturday from a trip to Mexico City. Some students from Northcote College also arrived home on Saturday from Mexico. Some of these people have sore throats and fever. Tests show that they have Influenza A but they are waiting for more tests to see if this is swine flu. They were told to stay at home. Other people on the same plane from Los Angeles may also catch this flu. Health officials are trying to find all these people. Some of them are tourists.

Swine flu has probably reached Los Angeles. Three or four planes arrive each day in Auckland from Los Angeles.