New Zealand-10 cases of Swine flu.

Swine flu is spreading around the world, with 10 New Zealand students likely to have contracted the virus, but reports this morning indicate that two suspect Australians have tested negative.

In the United States investigations are ongoing to determine the source of swine influenza (H1N1) in individuals in California, Texas, Kansas and New York, according to reports from the United States Center for Disease Control & Prevention.

As of Sunday morning, CDC had confirmed at least eight children at a school in the New York City borough of Queens had been infected.

Over the weekend, the CDC confirmed an additional infection in California, the state’s seventh case.

Two cases were confirmed in Kansas, and there have been two cases reported in Texas.

Elsewhere, New Zealand reported that 10 students "likely" have swine flu after a school trip to Mexico.

The Israeli Health Ministry said it has one suspected case.

French Health Ministry officials said four possible cases of swine flu are under investigation.

Spain’s Health Ministry said three people who just returned from Mexico were under observation.

The World Health Organisation estimates that at least 81 people in Mexico have died from severe pneumonia caused by the flu-like illness.

The viruses are said to contain "a unique combination of gene segments that have not been reported previously among swine or human influenza viruses in the US or elsewhere".

Swine influenza viruses have never been found to be transmitted by food, or through the consumption of pork or pork products.

As stated on CDC’s website, eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe.

Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.

While swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, CDC reports that sporadic human infections of swine flu have occurred in the past, most commonly the result of persons having direct exposure to pigs.

Human-to-human transmission of swine flu does occur and is thought to happen in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus.

People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

CDC is recommending the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment of infection with swine influenza viruses.

The H1N1 viruses are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine, neither of which are compounds found in animal health products used by the swine industry.

It is not anticipated that the seasonal influenza vaccine will provide protection against the swine flu H1N1 viruses.

CDC has also been working closely with public health officials in Mexico, Canada and WHO.

Mexican public health authorities have reported increased levels of respiratory disease, including reports of severe pneumonia cases and deaths, in recent weeks.

* Further information on international cases can be found at World Health Organisation, or for more information on swine flu and for update reports visit the CDC website.