The number of confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 in New Zealand rose to 153 on Thursday, the Ministry of Health said.

There were 26 new confirmed cases on Thursday, with 12 in Canterbury, 12 in Wellington and one each in Auckland and Hawke's Bay.

There are now 10 schools with students who have been infected with the virus.

Health officials were calling on householders to prepare for the spread of influenza A/H1N1 as they would for a civil defence emergency.

"Up to half of our population could become unwell in the next few months," Canterbury District Health Board chief medical officer Nigel Millar said.

Health services, local civil defence, emergency services and welfare organizations were working together to ensure that critical needs in the community were met during the pandemic, Canterbury Emergency Management Office chief planner Jon Mitchell said.

But help was only likely to be available for people who did not have support elsewhere in the community.

"Individuals, families and community groups of all types need to be prepared to look after themselves and each other," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2009)