Zookeeper killed in tiger attack in New Zealand

WELLINGTON, May 27 (Xinhua) -- A zookeeper died on Wednesday after being attacked by a white tiger at a wildlife park near New Zealand's North Island city of Whangarei, Radio New Zealand reported on Wednesday.

Police said Dalu Mncube was killed by a white tiger while cleaning an enclosure with another keeper at the Zion Wildlife Gardens.

Despite the best efforts of the other staff members who rushed to his aid, the male tiger would not let Mncube go and he died at the scene from "tearing" injuries to his head, torso and lower leg, the radio reported.

The white tiger, one of only 120 in the world, has been put down and the park has been closed, while police and Department of Labor staff investigate further.

Eight foreign tourists on a tour of the park have witnessed the attack. The park is home to 42 rare lions and tigers.

Factbox: H1N1 flu cases in Asia-Pacific region

HONG KONG. May 6 (Xinhua) -- Following is the latest figure of the
Influenza A/H1N1 cases in the Asia-Pacific region on Wednesday:

-- CONFIRMED INFECTIONS CASES RELEASED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
(WHO):

South Korea: 2; China's Hong Kong: 1; New Zealand: 6

-- COUNTRIES OR REGIONS WITH SUSPECTED INFECTIONS CASES:

South Korea: 30; New Zealand: 107; Australia: 128

New Zealand step up influenza A/H1N1 measures at airport

Special Report:
World Tackles A/H1N1
Flu

WELLINGTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand health authorities dealing
with influenza A/H1N1 were stepping up their efforts to gather information from
passengers arriving at Auckland International Airport, according to local media
report on Sunday.

Previously, only passengers arriving on flights from North America had been
asked to provide extra details, such as contact telephone numbers, Radio New
Zealand reported.

All passengers flying into New Zealand from any destination will now be
asked to fill out a form, Radio New Zealand quoted Health Minister Tony Ryall as
saying.

He said this is a precautionary step, so improved contact information is
available to the authorities if there are further cases of swine flu.

The Ministry of Health said that within New Zealand there are now four
confirmed cases of swine flu, 12 probable cases and 101 suspected cases.

On Saturday, 269 people were isolation and being treated with Tamiflu - 119
fewer than the day before.

New Zealand authorities will screen all passengers who are flying out of
the country to Niue for influenza-type symptoms, at the request of the island's
government.

Ryall said public health staff at Auckland International Airport will
monitor the 110 or so passengers who catch the weekly flight to Niue.

He said Niue's request follows a recent outbreak of influenza on the
island.

Hotels earmarked for flu quarantine in New Zealand

Special Report:
World Tackles A/H1N1
Flu


WELLINGTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand health authorities have
earmarked funds for three hotels as quarantine and treatment facilities to
handle growing cases of influenza A/H1N1.

The hotels, near the Auckland International Airport, were rolled into the
action plan to combat the virus after officials had trouble finding locations to
quarantine international visitors, the New Zealand Herald online reported on
Sunday.

Last week, a number of hotels refused to receive visitors who needed to be
quarantined after showing symptoms at the airport. A spokeswoman for the
Auckland Regional Public Health Service said the three hotels came forward after
reading of the refusal.

The number of confirmed infection cases of the new flu virus in New Zealand
has grown to four. Another 12 people are considered "probable" and 388 others
are in isolation.

Swine flu puts 179 people in isolation in New Zealand

Special Report: World Tackles Swine Flu

WELLINGTON, April 29 (Xinhua) -- A total of 179 people were in isolation around New Zealand as the number of cases of suspected swine flu continued to climb, said Health Ministry officials on Wednesday.

The officials said on Tuesday night there are at least three confirmed cases of swine flu in New Zealand: all from a Rangitoto College group who returned from Mexico early on Saturday.

They said results from three of the 11 samples of the students who tested positive to Influenza A on Sunday, have also tested positive for Swine Flu H1N1.

They assumed that all the 11 people in the group, who had tested positive for Influenza A, have Swine Flu.

On Wednesday morning, the Auckland Hospital lab has confirmed three more people with influenza A - which points to swine flu.

The government is expected to pass an order in Council on Wednesday adding swine flu to the list of notifiable diseases.

Meanwhile, a further two people showing flu-like symptoms were intercepted by officials at Auckland International Airport on Wednesday morning.

New Zealand became the sixth country in the world to have confirmed cases of the virus.