The Northern Cape reported its first case of swine flu on Friday, the provincial health department said.

Spokesperson Andrid Scholtz said a 20-year-old woman was diagnosed with H1N1 influenza - or swine flu - on Sunday and was immediately quarantined at her home.

He said the patient was still at home and her condition was "satisfactory".

The woman had contracted the virus from a person who was diagnosed with the influenza in Johannesburg. The department did not have details of when this happened.

He said all the people she had been in contact with were being monitored and receiving treatment.

The Northern Cape case brings the number of reported cases in South Africa to 48.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) reported on Wednesday the number had increased to 47 cases from the 30 it had reported on Monday.

The increasing number of cases was not a cause for panic as those infected showed only mild symptoms of swine flu, the NICD said.

The Democratic Alliance on Friday called on government to launch a public awareness campaign for swine flu.

"Unlike many other governments across the world, our government has been almost completely silent on the issue," DA shadow health minister Mike Waters said in a statement.

The DA believed there was no need for panic but "we do believe that the government could be doing considerably more in slowing down the spread of the virus". - Sapa

Source : IOL