Health Department reports another swine flu case

By Ofentse Mokae
04 July 2009

The Western Cape department of Health reported a third swine flu case in the province bringing up the national confirmed cases to 13.

The department’ media personnel Mark van der Heever confirmed today that there were three cases of swine flu in the province.

Apart from the two existing cases which are from the same household, van der Heever says a male from Brackenfell has caught the H1N1 virus and is being monitored.

“The department has traced all his contacts as well as the previous two and all cases are being monitored”, says van der Heever.

He says the three patients were discharged and are under treatment at their respective homes.

International reports say at least 377 people have died around the world from the swine flu, which has infected 80 000 people in 121 countries.

A local publication reported that South Africa’s first case was detected in a 12 year old boy who had arrived from the US in 14 June and the second case was of 29 year old rugby player now living in France.