Swine flu: Latest updates

The bishops are stopping parishioners receiving communion wafers on the tongue, communion wine from the chalice and from shaking hands at the sign of peace at masses in New Zealand.

In a statement, the bishops, who are meeting in Palmerston North, said they hoped they would not have to take stronger action, and reinforced the need for priests and other clergy working for the church to practise good hygiene procedures.

SWINE FLU MAP

12.37pm: Health authorities are working on setting up a specialised influenza assessment centre outside of Auckland's international airport.

The centre would provide space and facilities for those entering the country with flu symptoms to be checked out in isolation.

Director-General of Health Stephen told media today discussions were taking place over the establishment of a community-based influenza assessment centre in the Auckland region.

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A decision was likely over the next 24-hours on a preferred site for such a centre.

"Middlemore (hospital) is obviously in much closer vicinity to the airport and has available clinical space," he said.

Health staff at the centre would undertake clinical assessments away from the airport and in relative isolation.

"We will also have conversations with chairs (of DHBs) and CEOs across the rest of the country, alerting them to thinking about and planning for perhaps the development of more community-based assessment centres..."

The centres might need to be brought into play as the swine flu situation evolved, he said.

11.53am: Australia's pandemic preparedness plan in response to the global swine flu outbreak is already in full swing, the federal government says.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on today raised its flu alert level to phase five out of six, signalling that a pandemic was "imminent".

WHO Director General Margaret Chan called on all countries to immediately activate their pandemic preparedness plans.

Following the announcement, Health Minister Nicola Roxon said Australia had already done so.

"We are ahead of the game, if you like, in those situations," she told ABC Radio.

Cabin crews were making announcements on all incoming flights to Australia requesting people with flu-like symptoms to identify themselves and health declaration cards must now be completed at border entry points.

Ms Roxon said the government had also rolled out a series of public health advertisements regarding the potentially deadly virus in local print media, and thermal scanners had been deployed to airports around the nation but would not be used until recommended by the nation's chief medical officer.

Anyone who has travelled to Mexico or North America in the last seven days should contact Healthline (0800 611 116) for information. They should seek medical advice if they are displaying flu-like symptoms.