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Air passengers to Zurich may have flu virus

Health authorities are studying the condition of 19 people suspected of carrying the H1N1 virus behind the "swine flu" outbreak, but more people may be infected.

Patrick Mathys, a Federal Health Office representative, urged anyone who flew on US Airways flight 804 from Cancún to Philadelphia and US Airways flight 710 from Philadelphia to Zurich on April 25 to contact a doctor.

A traveller onboard those flights had been infected with H1N1, an influenza A virus. Fellow passengers may have contracted the germs, Mathys told a news conference in Bern on Friday.

Of the 35 total cases brought before the Swiss health authorities so far, 15 have tested negative. One person, a 19-year-old man, has tested positive.

Officials said he has a mild form of the flu and is recovering.

Authorities said they believe the virus could infect four times as many people as in a normal flu season.

swissinfo with agencies

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