The Ministry of Health is monitoring a new flu virus after the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned it could start a global epidemic.

More than 80 people in Mexico are believed to have died and over 1300 are sick as a result of catching swine flu which has led to the closure of schools in Mexico city.

There have also been cases of the swine flu reported in New York, California and Kansas and a British Airways pilot has been hospitalised in London with flu symptoms after returning from Mexico.

The WHO has declared the outbreaks a "public health event of international concern" and said they could cause a pandemic – a global epidemic of serious disease.

Normal border control procedures were in place, and the WHO has asked all countries to "intensify surveillance for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia".

The ministry here said it continued to be in contact with the WHO and was liaising with Australia over its response at this stage was. "We are implementing the early stages of our pandemic response plan," a spokesman said.

"However at this stage there is no indication that this will be needed."