A Warilla High School student is in quarantine after returning to the Illawarra from a cruise ship carrying four passengers who tested positive for swine flu.The student was not outwardly ill but since disembarking the ship had "not stepped foot" on school grounds as a precautionary measure, principal Glenn Isemonger said.VIDEO: Swine flu update from NSW Health"The mother, obviously understanding there was an issue, rang the school and the school advised her that under health regulations and department protocols, (the student) isn't to come to school for seven days."We will be in contact to see if there are any developments."
Were you on the cruise ship? Have you been quarantined? Call us on 4221 2206 or email scoop@illawarramercury.com.auPublic health officials confirmed 66 cases of the virus across Australia yesterday.The student was one of 31 people in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven suspected of carrying the virus. However, one swine flu case that had been confirmed on the South Coast is now being treated as a suspected case.As of yesterday morning, there were seven confirmed cases in the northern part of the South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service and 18 throughout the state. LATEST SWINE FLU NEWS:Pacific Dawn crew test positive for swine flu; Australian cases pass 100 Swine flu expected to infect one in five Australians Swine flu: child turned away from Bulli Hospital ED Swine flu scare hits NSW cabinet The rapid increase in confirmed cases prompted health experts - including Raina MacIntyre, professor of infectious diseases, epidemiology and head of the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of NSW - to declare a full-scale epidemic imminent."I expect to see a full-scale epidemic in the community within weeks," Prof MacIntyre announced."Up to 10-30 per cent of the population (are likely to become infected) over the course of the epidemic."The Mercury understands several more cruise ship passengers fronted Illawarra hospitals for testing yesterday.
