/ 25 June 2009

Second case of swine flu reported in SA

A second swine flu case has been reported in South Africa, Gauteng health spokesperson Mandla Sidu said on Thursday.

Sidu, however, declined to give details and said the national health department was authorised to give information in this regard. The department was unavailable to comment immediately.

The SABC earlier reported that a rugby player, who arrived in the country last Monday to visit his mother in Pretoria, was found to have H1N1 influenza, commonly known as swine flu.

The country’s first case was a 12-year-old boy who arrived at OR Tambo International airport from the United States on June 14.

The health department said earlier this month that South Africans and travellers to the Confederations Cup need not panic after the first case came to light

Addressing the media in Tshwane on June 19, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said his department was prepared and had measures in place to handle the virus.

”The World Health Organisation [WHO] team has assessed our equipment and they said it was up to international standards.

”We have systems in place to respond appropriately to any suspected or confirmed case of H1N1 influenza,” he said. – Sapa