A group of 73 plane passengers who landed at New Zealand's Auckland Airport suffering flu-like symptoms have now been allowed to leave the airport.
The infected passengers were Japanese schoolchildren, part of a group of 90 students who arrived from Tokyo and were headed on a home-stay trip.
Health authorities were alerted shortly after the Boeing 777-200 landed around 9.20am local time (7.20am AEDT) with the children complaining for flu-like symptoms.
Five ambulances rushed to the scene with medical crews wearing protective gear as they boarded the flight to examine the sick passengers.
None of the 274 passengers on board were allowed to leave as passengers were assessed.
TVNZ reports that at 10am AEDT the 201 unaffected passengers were allowed through customs.
Health authorities have now confirmed it is releasing all passengers.
Health Minister Tony Ryall said the quarantine response was precautionary and those on board the plane were believed to have ordinary seasonal influenza.
"We've been briefed on the situation, and advised that it is Japan's flu season, and there are no reports of new strains of flu there," he told the New Zealand Herald.
Japan is currently experiencing a flu epidemic, with more than two million people reported ill and infection rates climbing to 380,000 cases a week.
Front page
RSS Feed