A Pandemic Emergency Committee meeting in Sydney has left Australia's influenza alert at the contain level, despite the World Health Organisation declaring the swine flu virus a global pandemic.

Victoria's alert level was upgraded to 'modified sustain' last week.

More than 1,300 people have been confirmed as having swine flu in Australia; six people diagnosed with the virus are in hospital but underlying medical conditions may have exacerbated the virus's effect on them.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon says there is no need to cancel sporting events and other public gatherings.

"If the disease develops differently in the future, if it mutated into a more deadly disease, we would of course look at our advice and see if extra steps need to be taken," she said.

"But we are a long way from that in terms of the virulence of the disease and we certainly have no advice that that is necessary."

Ms Roxon says the Government will spend $4 million to ensure GPs are ready to respond to a pandemic.

"Our GPs are very highly skilled and highly trained and already have a lot of this information, but we're responding to requests that our GPS would like more information," she said.

"It is about ensuring that those people who have to provide the frontline care are provided with up-to-date information about swine flu."