Accra, Aug. 18, GNA - A total of 61 specimens has been investigated for the pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 (swine flu), the Ghana Health Service (GHS) announced in Accra on Tuesday.

It said 36 suspected cases and 25 contacts were investigated at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (National Influenza Centre) in Accra, with two testing positive.

"The only two confirmed cases (a young lady and her brother) have been managed very well and discharged without complications and pose no danger to their household, work mates or the general public, GHS said in an update of the swine flu situation.

It thanked the family of the two persons for their co-operation. GHS said the pandemic was still in its early stages of evolution and needed to be monitored closely, adding "we hereby request the general public and all stakeholders to support in the management of the situation".

The pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 is caused by a virus that affects the respiratory system and typically spreads through coughs and sneezes or by touching contaminated surfaces.

The disease, which may present itself like a common cold with cough, sore throat, fever, catarrh, general weakness, body ache and headache and sometimes vomiting or diarrhoea, may also lead to severe pneumonia with difficulty in breathing, rapid breathing and chest pain. Symptoms can last up to a week and complications of the disease include pneumonia and difficulty in breathing. The disease is highly transmissible, with majority of cases presented as mild diseases, especially in younger people.