ESR Scientists have begun testing samples at the WHO National Influenza Centre (NIC), located at the National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease - Wallaceville. ESR is able to positively confirm or exclude swine flu through its testing.
The NIC will only undertake tests on samples that have already tested postive for Influenza A at district health board laboratories. These are referred to ESR for further testing to confirm whether it is swine flu. ESR reports all results to the New Zealand health authorities.
The first suspected samples of swine flu in New Zealand were initially sent to the WHO regional laboratory in Melbourne, one of only five collaborating centres which deals with new flu strains. Now the swine flu has been confirmed in New Zealand and the molecular characteristics of the virus have been internationally identified ESR's WHO National Influenza Centre can perform the testing.
ESR will undertake a range of molecular biological tests including PCR and sequencing. In line with international laboratory best practice, initial samples with positive test results for this new virus will be provided to the WHO Collaborating Centre in Melbourne.
Maf staff from the National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease are supporting ESR staff in their response. The centre was opened last year to provide centralised coordination and emergency response for disease outbreaks, biosecurity investigations, chemical and biological threats and events.
Surveillance
ESR manages and runs New Zealand's notifiable disease surveillance database, Episurv, on behalf of the Ministry of Health. This collates information in real-time and allows public health services to see what's happening nationally in real or near-realtime.
Specific case reports for swine flu are already available for public health services to enter any potential and actual swine flu cases. A contact tracing module, providing a facility for public health to monitor contacts with cases has also been activated. This is additional to the seasonal influenza surveillance ESR undertakes as part of its role running the WHO National Influenza Centre.
Link to information on EpiSurv, the notifiable disease database
Link to infomation about ESR's Science Centre at the National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease
Link to Ministry of Health updates (opens in new window)
www.ncbid.govt.nz ( opens in new window)