Australia’s government has approved tough new powers to detain and disinfect people suspected of carrying swine flu as authorities await test results from 91 suspected cases.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon sought approval for the new laws late on Tuesday, but said she had no intention yet of forcibly detaining people, unless the threat of a pandemic escalated.

“We are not about to take those steps but we want to make sure that all the powers are there, that we are ready to act if this takes a dramatic turn for the worst,” Roxon told reporters. “It is a sensible precautionary step for us to take.”

The powers, approved by Australia’s Governor-General Quentin Bryce, who represents Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, also allow authorities to use disinfectant on planes or at port facilities.

Health authorities are also trying to track down 22 Australians who travelled on the same plane as three New Zealand students who contracted swine flu.

Test results on people tested after showing flu-like symptoms are expected in the next two days, Roxon said.

CANBERRA (Reuters)