The National Institute for Communicable Diseases has reported that the 12-year-old boy who brought swine flu into the country is recovering well.

The boy arrived at OR Tambo International Airport from America last week carrying South Africa's first case of the H1N1 virus.

The institute's Barry Schoub said the boy would leave isolation soon.

"We'll keep him in isolation for about a week, that is the standard international practice, and then he should not be infectious anymore," Schoub explained.

He added that officials are still searching for passengers who were sitting close to the youngster on the flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg in an effort to contain the disease.