The number of confirmed cases of Influenza A/H1N1 rose to 364 in New Zealand on Tuesday, up from 303 from Monday, the Health Ministry said.

Deputy director of public health Fran McGrath said the total of 364 is clearly an under-estimate. McGrath said the number of people phoning or visiting their doctor with flu is a more accurate measure, and that has risen steeply in the past fortnight.

Health Minister Tony Ryall said Influenza A/H1N1 was now being treated like the usual seasonal flu.

"As a result of the tremendous efforts of public health authorities and primary care professionals, New Zealand has delayed the likely peak of the swine flu beyond the annual winter flu peak," Ryall said in a ministerial statement.

"I have been advised that this flu will become very widespread --the number of confirmed cases has grown by a fifth overnight," he added.

He told Parliament that as of Tuesday, 12 of the country's 21 District Health Board areas have moved to a virus management strategy, rather than containment.

Ryall said because nearly all cases of influenza A/H1N1 were mild, the national stockpile of the Tamiflu anti-viral drug was being conserved for a possible second wave of a more serious nature.

(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2009)