Health authorities are concerned young Australians heading to Queenstown on ski holidays might not admit to feeling unwell, thereby potentially placing others at risk of swine flu. Thousands of young skiers and snowboarders arrive in the resort from Australia each winter and there is concern they might not want to ruin their week-long party by going into voluntary quarantine.

Although international airports are on high alert, with nurses doing checks and passengers required to fill out declaration forms, doctors are worried some young Aussie blokes might ignore flu-like symptoms and continue to party.

“Our major concern is how do we get young partying skiers to isolate themselves … and what weight will be given to it and how we catch them,” Queenstown Medical Centre chief executive Dr Richard Macharg said yesterday.

The health sector needed to be assured that anyone with flu-like symptoms would definitely go into isolation and not just be given “a gentle suggestion”.

Otago and Southland medical officer of health Dr Marion Poore said yesterday ensuring passengers voluntarily admitted to feeling unwell was a concern for everybody and it was entirely possible there would be those who chose not to declare illness and continued to travel.

“Potentially that does put others at risk it’s very difficult to manage that, so we really have to promote the message to not travel if you’re sick and if you do become sick when away, to minimise contact with other people,” she said.

The region could potentially see its first confirmed case of swine flu within the next week or two and with thousands of visitors heading to Queenstown for the annual winter festival Dr Poore said she hoped anyone who was sick would “decide to defer travel”.

Public Health South reported just two suspected cases in Queenstown yesterday a local resident returning from overseas and an overseas visitor. One had tested negative while the other was awaiting the outcome of tests.

The Queenstown Medical Centre has been inundated with phone calls about swine flu and from those concerned about symptoms. Calls had “at least doubled” during the past few weeks, Dr Macharg said.

Several patients had been checked and swabbed but he was unsure how many.

“We’re certainly getting more people attending with possible cases.

“At this stage there are no confirmed cases but we’re certainly seeing more concerns and they’re being treated accordingly,” Dr Macharg said.

He urged people with symptoms to telephone first before visiting medical centres so they could be checked separately in a secure area.

The anticipated influx of Australians and other visitors for the ski season made Queenstown a high-risk area.

Ad Feedback “If you’re unwell don’t travel and if you’re here stay indoors away from other people,” he said.

The Southland District Health Board has recruited a roster of extra nurses to check passengers in and out of Queenstown Airport once the resort’s trans-Tasman flights increase next week for the ski season.

As many as four nurses would be on duty during the busy arrival and departure times.

Queenstown Pharmacy owner Andrew Bary said he was expecting demand for Tamiflu to ”increase dramatically” with Australian school holidays later this month and a big influx of Australian skiers.

It was likely that many of those people might arrive feeling well and not develop symptoms until several days later, Mr Bary said.

“It’s only a matter of time.”