All Blacks cautious about swine flu

The All Blacks are continuing with their public promotions until told otherwise by the Ministry of Health. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The All Blacks have their protocol in place and a batch of Tamiflu tablets at the ready but otherwise the threat of swine flu is barely making a ripple.

Since gathering earlier this month ahead of tests against France and Italy, All Blacks management have asked the team to follow Ministry of Health guidelines but there has been no change to their weekly routines.

New Zealand Rugby Union medical director Dr Steve Targett said that included the team's regular public promotions, with the ministry not yet advising that public gatherings need to be controlled in any way.

As of last night, the number of confirmed cases of swine flu in New Zealand had reached 109, with 23 new cases reported yesterday. It was expected to climb further today.

Targett said the All Blacks group would be no different to any business or school, taking the recommended precautions such as regularly washing hands and coughing or sneezing into tissues.

Medical staff with the All Blacks and with two national teams who are currently competing overseas - the Junior All Blacks in Fiji and the under-20 team at the junior world championships - had all been given stocks of Tamiflu.

"Each of the teams will have their own protocol in how to manage infectious diseases," Targett said.

"We have to take advice from what the Ministry of Health are saying about quarantining people and treatment etc.

"It's probably no different to what has happened over the years. You basically have these procedures ready if someone gets an infectious disease."

The last time the All Blacks had to deal with a contagious illness was 2004, just days out from a Tri-Nations test against South Africa in Christchurch.

Nearly a third of the squad were struck down by a 48-hour gastric bug, forcing each of them into isolation and leading team doctor Graham Paterson to introduce a "paranoid policy" of regular hand washing.

Swine flu has already infiltrated professional sport in Australasia, with Queensland players quarantined by their National Rugby League clubs earlier this month after forward Ben Hannant contracted the illness.

- NZPA