Asia-Pacific countries work to control flu

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, April 29 (UPI) -- Health officials in Asia-Pacific countries say they're stepping up efforts to confirm the number of cases of swine flu in the region.

Officials in New Zealand say they have confirmed three more cases of swine flu to add to the 11 cases previously identified, Voice of America reported Wednesday.

No cases of the disease have been confirmed elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region, heath officials said, but testing is under way in several countries.

In South Korea, several people with flu symptoms were being tested, while Chinese authorities were on full alert after several children exhibited symptoms resembling those associated with swine flu.

In Australia, about 100 people underwent testing and the government ramped up surveillance measures to require airplane crews to report any sick passengers before landing, VOA said. At least six people with flu-like symptoms were escorted off a plane at the Brisbane airport, with one person detained and tested for swine flu.

Travelers arriving in Sydney from Hong Kong told VOA they had to walk through thermal imaging scanners before boarding their flights.

Officials in Japan and Taiwan said they were preparing to send doctors aboard incoming flights to perform health checks.

Australia New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan all are advising against non-essential travel to Mexico, believed to be ground zero for the outbreak.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations said it is prepared to tap quickly its emergency stockpile of 1 million courses of Tamiflu, an anti-flu treatment.