Swine flu hits Spanish soldiers

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Eleven new cases of swine flu have been diagnosed at a Spanish military school, bringing the country's total to 126, health authorities have said.

The discovery of the virus at the school, about 20 miles (30km) outside Madrid, prompted a further 57 soldiers to be put under observation.

The latest confirmed cases were said to be mild, with nine people in hospital.

Meanwhile, Russia reported its first case of the virus which has spread through about 40 countries from Mexico.

The death toll globally stands at 86, with about 11,000 cases of infection.

In Spain, Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa de la Vega said: "There is no reason for alarm.

"We are maintaining our guard and have activated all our tools of prevention and control."

Authorities were investigating how the virus could have been picked up by the soldiers.

Of the national total, all but 31 involved people who had been to Mexico recently.

The Heath Ministry said schoolchildren visited the military academy this week, even after suspicion of an outbreak had emerged.

US flight

But Ms de la Vega said the cases were only confirmed on Friday.

Spain has the highest number of infections in Europe.

In Russia, the infected person had flown from the US to Moscow.

Public health chief Gennady Onishchenko said the Russian man had been admitted to an infectious diseases clinic, the Interfax news agency reported.

"He feels normal and is receiving adequate medical care," he was quoted as saying.