The health ministry yesterday reported two additional imported cases of Influenza A (H1N1), also called swine flu, in Jamaica but said that one of the infected persons has recovered while the other is "recovering satisfactorily".

According to the ministry, both persons live in New York in the United States and had travelled to Jamaica. The ministry did not say when the infected persons were here, offering only that one of them stayed in St Mary and the other in Trelawny.

"Immediate contacts have been interviewed, examined and samples taken," the ministry said in a news release, adding that its surveillance and monitoring team "has still not detected any local spread to date".

Last week, the ministry reported two imported cases in the island from persons who had travelled to New York, but said that there was no need to panic as they had the matter under control.

"The Ministry of Health has been in preparedness mode since we activated our Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan on April 27, 2009," the ministry said yesterday. "We have enhanced our laboratory and health services capacity and have been following the WHO's mandate for the phase 5 pandemic alert, including heightened surveillance and early detection and treatment."

The ministry again urged Jamaicans to continue to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves against any possible Influenza infection. "These include frequent hand washing with soap and water, covering mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing and avoiding contact with persons with flu-like symptoms," the ministry said.

They also invited the public to call the ministry's toll free line at 1-888-663-5683 for more information about Influenza A (H1N1).