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Swine flu samples burst in Swiss train, no threat

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-29 10:47

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Swiss police say a container with animal swine flu samples burst as it was being shipped on a Swiss train.

Related readings:  Swine Flu Outbreak Related readings:  China wants swine virus samples for research  Officials say US deaths expected from swine flu  S. Korea on alert as suspected case of swine flu confirmed  Mexico says suspected swine flu deaths now at 149

Authorities say the accident Monday on a train traveling from Zurich to Geneva posed no threat to humans.

Police in the Swiss canton of Vaud said Tuesday the virus was a type of swine flu unconnected with the human outbreak in Mexico. They blamed the explosion on bad packing of the samples in dry ice.

About 40 police and medical experts boarded the train to care for passengers. One person was slightly injured.

The samples were being transferred to Geneva as part of Swiss plans to develop an effective test for detecting swine flu in humans.