Swine flu cases cross 3,000-mark in Australia

In an update to reporters, Health Minister Nicola Roxon said the country had 3,199 officially confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) virus as of Thursday afternoon.

Of them, 168 have been hospitalized. Thirty-six people were still in hospitals and 13 in intensive care units, she said.

"Those who have been in hospital mostly have been people with existing conditions," she added.

So far three Australians have died from swine flu - one in South Australia and two in Victoria.

Roxon said guidelines have been released for the treatment of indigenous Australians, who might be particularly susceptible.

The government was deploying anti-viral medication to rural and remote areas to treat indigenous Australians, if necessary, she said.

-IANS