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Johannesburg - Doctors were waiting for test results on Wednesday, to determine if a Cape Town man kept in isolation in hospital has swine flu - or A(H1N1) influenza.
Dr Stefan Smuts, Cape Town Medi-Clinic's emergency services national manager, said specimens including swabs and blood samples were taken from the man.
He had been treated in isolation at the hospital since Monday.
The man, who recently travelled to Argentina, was admitted to hospital after displaying symptoms of the A(H1N1) flu - which has caused 29 deaths in Mexico and two in the US. There were 1 884 confirmed cases worldwide.
South Africa has not had any confirmed cases of the flu.
Smuts said although Argentina did not have any confirmed cases, the man could have come into contact with travellers from regions with confirmed cases of the flu.
"He came to hospital with flu-like symptoms which qualified him as a possible patient of A(H1N1).
"This included a fever above 38 degrees, coughing, a runny nose, as well as travelling to another country which is a major contributor... we are observing him."
Due to doctor-patient confidentiality, the man's identity could not be revealed.
Smuts said the samples were sent to a national laboratory and the results would possibly be in by Thursday morning.
- SAPA
Dr Stefan Smuts, Cape Town Medi-Clinic's emergency services national manager, said specimens including swabs and blood samples were taken from the man.
He had been treated in isolation at the hospital since Monday.
The man, who recently travelled to Argentina, was admitted to hospital after displaying symptoms of the A(H1N1) flu - which has caused 29 deaths in Mexico and two in the US. There were 1 884 confirmed cases worldwide.
South Africa has not had any confirmed cases of the flu.
Smuts said although Argentina did not have any confirmed cases, the man could have come into contact with travellers from regions with confirmed cases of the flu.
"He came to hospital with flu-like symptoms which qualified him as a possible patient of A(H1N1).
"This included a fever above 38 degrees, coughing, a runny nose, as well as travelling to another country which is a major contributor... we are observing him."
Due to doctor-patient confidentiality, the man's identity could not be revealed.
Smuts said the samples were sent to a national laboratory and the results would possibly be in by Thursday morning.
- SAPA
