Valletta, Malta  - The first two cases of swine flu in Malta were confirmed Thursday, officials said.

Doctors are treating two 26-year-old men for the H1N1 virus, Parliamentary Secretary, Mario Galea, confirmed.

The two apparently contracted the virus which causes swine flu after travelling to Spain together with a group of 25 people.

Ten other members of the group which returned to Malta on Tuesday, are showing symptoms of swine flu, officials said.

All suspected cases and their families are under a voluntary quarantine.

Malta had so far been the only European Union country without a swine flu case, Galea said.

"It was a matter of when, not if. There is no need for alarm, we are well prepared," Galea said.

The tiny Mediterranean island-state is the most densely populated EU country.(dpa)