The World Health Organisation says that the swine flu problem is on the wane, but experts believe that the flu is again going to hit the region soon.

Influenza experts believe that this year the flu season has arrived late and are warning people of some deadly strains of the disease.

Alan Hampson, who is the Chairman of the Influenza Specialists Group, says that in the past three weeks there has been a rise in the influenza cases in New Zealand. He also said that the threat still exists and people need to be very careful.

According to the Government, as many as 609 hospitalisations of confirmed cases of the disease have been noted so far; 14 people are being treated in the intensive care unit and 16 have died because of this deadly virus.

People who are above 65 years are more vulnerable to this virus. Heart patients, pregnant women, diabetic patients, and people suffering from lung and kidney diseases are also the easy targets for swine flu virus.

It is mandatory for these high-risk groups to get the vaccination as early as possible.

Australia is also under the threat of swine flu. It is said that each year as many as 3,500 Australians die from influenza-related diseases.