A negative pathology result has been returned from Influenza A testing on a young man who recently travelled on the cruise ship Pacific Dawn and showed flu-like symptoms after returning home. There have been confirmed cases of the disease amongst passengers who disembarked in Sydney.
The man contacted a doctor at the NT Department of Health and Families (DHF) Centre for Disease Control with flu-like symptoms. He was tested for influenza and advised to remain within his home environment.
The pathology testing has shown negative to Influenza A. No further testing is required, though he will remain in voluntary home isolation for the next few days until the seven day incubation period for the disease has passed.
Three other NT residents who also travelled on the Pacific Dawn are in voluntary home isolation. They have not exhibited any symptoms of Influenza A so have not been tested for the disease.
NT DHF Chief Health Officer Dr Barbara Paterson praised the four Territorians who remain in voluntary home isolation.
"These people are doing the right thing by volunteering to remain in isolation and I commend them for their cooperation and for their sense of community responsibility."
A positive test for Influenza A would necessitate further testing for the possibility of the Human Swine Influenza H1N1.
For further information on Human Swine Influenza visit the link on the Department of Health and Families website at http://www.health.nt.gov.au/index.aspx
The Commonwealth Government's Human Swine Flu telephone information line is 1802007
Media contact:Robin Osborne, Director, DHF Media & Corporate Communications, 0488 692 781
Release date: 7pm Thursday 28 May 2009
