Australia’s Swine Flu Tally Rises to 1,211

By Phoebe Sedgman and Joanna Cooney

June 9 (Bloomberg) -- The number of confirmed swine flu cases in Australia reached 1,211, the government said today, the highest number outside North America.

The southeastern state of Victoria continues to be the worst-hit region in Australia with 1,011 confirmed cases of the swine flu strain of influenza formally known as H1N1, the federal health department said on its Web site.

Swimming Australia said it canceled its Grand Prix meet scheduled for later this month in the Victorian capital, Melbourne, due to the risk of swine flu and quarantine procedures.

“The cancellation of any such event is regrettable, and I would urge those who are organizing such events to make sure their decisions are based on medical advice,” federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon told reporters.

Restricting domestic travel isn’t an appropriate response to the “mild display” of H1N1 in Australia, Roxon added. New South Wales, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory have said children who travel to Melbourne should stay away from school for a week on their return home.

Several professional rugby league players may have to miss matches this weekend over fears they have contracted the virus, the Sydney-based Daily Telegraph newspaper reported.

Celebrations marking Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday were also affected, when a military parade was canceled in Duntroon, near Canberra, at the weekend after a cadet contacted the H1N1 virus. The cadet and several colleagues have been put in isolation, the defense department said.

Victoria has 1,011 confirmed cases of swine flu, New South Wales has 89, Queensland 53, Western Australia 20, South Australia 13, the ACT 10, Tasmania 9 and the Northern Territory 6, according to the government.

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