The Health Ministry has to be on full alert and prepared to treat and manage cases as they are recorded.

These are the words of the media liaison officer of the Health Ministry Iliesa Tora who said that Influenza A H1N1 is a real threat, and the events in Australia mean that there is also a threat to Fiji.

He said a meeting of the Ministry's committee on the influenza was held recently to discuss the importance of planning mitigation steps that will need to be taken if there are cases recorded here.

Tora said that the whole government machinery, the private sector and the tourism industry has been told to be on full alert from now on.

He said the quarantine of ships or cruise liners is an option and it is something the Ministry will have to look into seriously.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry said it also advised the Under 20 rugby team doctors to take precautionary measures while they are in Japan.

The team left the country yesterday.