Swine flu is no less infectious or harmful this flu season, despite a drop in the number of reported cases, the Ministry of Health says.
The warning comes nearly two weeks after a Bay of Plenty woman died from complications related to the H1N1 virus. It was the only known swine flu-related death so far this year, although four other people have been hospitalised with the virus.
Ministry deputy director of health Fran McGrath said while the number of people seeking treatment for swine flu was down on last year's figures, the virus was no less virulent.
"The virus continues to circulate in our communities. The more plausible explanation for the low rate of consultation is that for most people, pandemic influenza is a mild to moderate illness that they recover from in four to five days, without requiring any medical attention," she said.
Swine flu is now the most common influenza virus circulating around the globe and 80 percent of all influenza cases in New Zealand are likely to be H1N1.
Dr McGrath said vaccination remained the best protection against swine flu.
A survey by the Institute of Environmental Science and Research found about 30 percent of New Zealanders were immune to the virus.
Last year, 35 deaths were associated with or attributed to swine flu.
