The Philippine health officials on Sunday confirmed the country's second influenza A/H1N1 case, a 50- year-old female who returned from the United States.

Health Secretary Duque III told a press conference here that the patient arrived in Manila on May 20 and sought health consultation the next day after experiencing cough and fever.

Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), the country's designated hospital for influenza A/H1N1 testing, later confirmed that the patient has contracted with the new flu virus.

RITM head Dr. Remigio Olveda told Xinhua that the patient, who has been hospitalized since May 22, is now recovering well and on longer shows fever-like symptoms.

Olveda said the patient is a Filipino in origin and has stayed in the United States for a long time.

Health officials gave no further details but said the contact tracing is in process.

Last Thursday, the Philippines reported the country's first confirmed case -- a 10-year-old girl who also came from the United States.

The girl has almost fully recovered and will be discharged after completing her antiviral medications and as soon as repeat examinations is negative of the virus, health officials said.

At present, 10 new cases of suspected influenza A/H1N1 are under medical observation in the Philippines, after the authorities cleared more than 90 other suspected cases.

The Department of Health is also tracing the contacts of two visitors from Taiwan, a mother and her daughter, who was tested positive of influenza A/H1N1 after returning from their short visit to the Philippines.

According to the tally of the World Heath Organization (WHO), as of 06:00 GMT, 23 May, countries around the globe have officially reported 12,022 cases of influenza A/H1N1 infection, including 86 deaths.

(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2009)