As three cases of swine flu are officially confirmed for New Zealand, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has revised and increased its travel warning for Mexico advising Australians to “reconsider their need to travel to Mexico”.

Three individuals from Rangitoto College in Auckland who were suspected of swine flu after a school-organised trip to Mexico have now been confirmed, as testing begins on the fourth individual at the World Health Organisation regional office in Melbourne.

Those Australians already in Mexico are being advised by the government to “consider leaving”, as it also moves to introduce brand new quarantine laws which give health officials the power to detain passengers with suspected cases of swine flu.

91 Australians are currently being tested for swine flu, including 22 who were on the same flight as the party from Rangitoto College.  All were showing flu symptoms but it is “quite unlikely” that all are suffering from swine flu.

“It is still quite unlikely but we know that people in this situation have been travelling in areas that are at risk,” said Nicola Roxon, Federal Health Minister on ABC Radio this morning.

Of the new Quarantine laws, she said they included, “Using disinfectants on planes or at ports, through to the far more extreme, which are making sure that people are isolated and perhaps detained if they don't cooperate and are showing symptoms of this disease.”

She added that thermal imaging technology would not yet be implemented at the nation’s airports, but notes that if the situation worsens, the Ministry of Health will revise procedures again.

Currently, airlines are being asked to provide quarantine officials with details of how many passengers were presenting flu-like symptoms on board for all services coming in from North America.

Quarantine officials would then board and escort those presenting symptoms off to be checked at medical booths on the ground.

As of last night six countries other than Mexico, where the A/H1N1 virus is believed to have originated, have officially reported cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 infection with the United States Government reporting 64 human cases with no deaths.

Canada (6), New Zealand (3), the United Kingdom (2), Israel (2) and Spain (2) are the other five countries.  No deaths have been recorded in these countries attributable to H1N1.

Travel companies taking precautions

Travel companies are implementing new procedures themselves, with some operations cancelling all travel options to Mexico, while others waive fees for cancellation or deferment of travel.

AeroMexico, one of the largest Mexican airlines, is promising its passengers that it will screen its cabin crew for any flu-like symptoms and adds that it will deny boarding to any passenger presenting flu-like symptoms.

Denied passengers will then be allowed to change the travel date of their tickets with no penalties.

Several British tour operators are suspending Mexico itineraries entirely, including Thomas Cook, First Choice Holidays, as well as Thomson Holidays.