Advisory:
    U.S. Consulate General, Auckland

13-May-09 Update: Possible International Travel Delays

U.S. State Department and U.S. Centers for Disease Control(CDC) advise that due to the outbreak of novel H1N1 flu occurring in the United States and many other countries, airport staff in some countries may check the health of arriving passengers.  These health screenings are being used to prevent the spread of novel H1N1 flu.

If you are sick with symptoms of influenza-like illness you should not travel. These symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

Travelers should be aware that since the novel H1N1 flu outbreak is occurring in the United States, flights from the United States arriving in other countries may be specifically targeted for screening. United States travelers may be checked for fever and other symptoms of novel H1N1 flu and their travel may be delayed. 

If you travel internationally from the United States, you may be asked to:

• Pass through a scanning device that checks your temperature (the device may look like an airport metal detector, a camera, or a handheld device)
• Have your temperature taken with an oral or ear thermometer
• Fill out a sheet of questions about your health
• Be quarantined for a period of time if a passenger on your flight is found to have symptoms of novel H1N1 flu

And, if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms, you may be asked to:

• Have a medical examination
• Take a rapid flu test which consists of a nasal swab sample
• Be isolated if you are showing signs of respiratory illness consistent with novel H1N1 flu

CDC strongly encourages all passengers to cooperate with these procedures. Please note that the U.S. Department of State usually cannot interfere with the right of other countries to screen airline passengers entering or exiting their countries.

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade(MFAT) has advised that with the present level of alert on the Influenza A H1N1 virus it is necessary to screen incoming passengers to New Zealand and in some cases to quarantine individuals.

MFAT further advises that when NZ foreign nationals (e.g. United States nationals) are directed into quarantine as a result of being screened as they arrive in the country, the officials managing the quarantine facility will, with the consent of the individual concerned, notify that person’s consular representatives at High Commissions, Embassies or Consular Posts.

Warden Message:
    U.S. Consulate General, Auckland

    1-May-09

This Warden Message alerts U.S. citizens to the latest information regarding human cases of 2009-H1N1 Influenza, sometimes referred to as swine flu.  Here is the local email link for information from New Zealand authorities: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/mexican-swine-influenza-update-270409

The Consulate General reminds U.S. citizens that most cases of influenza are not 2009-H1N1 Influenza.  Any questions or concerns about influenza or other illnesses should be directed to a medical professional.  Although the Consulate General cannot provide medical advice or provide medical services to the public, a list of hospitals and doctors can be found on our website at http://newzealand.usembassy.gov/acs_medical.html

For further information about 2009-H1N1 Influenza, including steps you can take to stay healthy, please consult the Department of State website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_pandemic.html, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu, the U.S. Government pandemic influenza website at http://www.pandemicflu.gov, and the World Health Organization website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html.  For additional travel safety information, please consult the State Department's website at http://www.travel.state.gov.

U.S. citizens may also call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the United States for the latest travel information.  The Office of Overseas Citizens Services can be reached from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday, by calling 1-888-407-4747 from within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling 001- 202-501-4444 from other countries.
 
Americans living or traveling in New Zealand are encouraged to register with the Consulate General through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/  so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within New Zealand.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the Consulate General.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Consulate General to contact them in case of emergency.

The U.S. Consulate General is located at 23 Customs Street East, Auckland;
    Ph#+64-9-3032724 extn: 2800;
    Fax # +64-9-366-0870;
    email: aucklandacs@state.gov.
    After hours emergency ph# +64-4-462-6000.

Advisory:
    U.S. Consulate General, Auckland

29-Apr-09 Update: from U.S. State Department

U.S. State Department issues Travel Alert for Mexico

28-Apr-09 Update: from New Zealand Ministry of Health

If you were a passenger on Air New Zealand Flight NZ1 from Los Angeles arriving in Auckland at FIVE AM on 25/04/2009, the New Zealand Ministry of Health asks you to please contact the Public Health Service urgently to discuss the possible need for protective measures such as antiviral medication.

Anyone who has travelled from Mexico or North America in the last two weeks, especially if you have since developed flu-like symptoms, should contact the Ministry of Health hotline (0800 611 116) for information.

27-Apr-09: Notice to Americans in New Zealand About Swine Flu

The US Centers for Disease Control is presently assisting the World Health Organization and Mexican Ministry of Health in responding to this public health concern.  Information concerning swine flu and the epidemiological investigation underway can be found at www.cdc.gov/swineflu.  Additional information on swine flu and pandemic influenza can be accessed through www.pandemicflu.gov. 

Up-dated information from New Zealand’s Ministry of Health is available at http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/mexican-swine-influenza-update-270409.