There were 13 confirmed cases of swine flu and 104 suspected cases in New Zealand, Health Minister Tony Ryall said on Thursday.

"The growth in suspect numbers is primarily from close family contacts from passengers on flights," Ryall told a press conference in Wellington.

He added that the 13 confirmed cases of swine flu in New Zealand were all in the Auckland area.

That was a decrease of one from Wednesday as one recent arrival in Auckland had come from Samoa and not from Los Angeles as first thought.

"We are working hard to identify people potentially with swine flu so we can provide them with treatment and support and limit the spread of the flu," Ryall told reporters.

Ryall said New Zealand was working under a policy of "contain and mitigate", adding that the health authorities were trying to contain the virus at the borders but also treating patients with swine flu with isolation and tamiflu.

The New Zealand government is expected to establish a "community-based assessment center", most likely at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland, where clinical assessments could be conducted away from Auckland Airport.

Numbers in isolation have also likely increased, with health officials dealing with 101 cases - including whole households - nationwide.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2009)