Turkey reports two more swine flu cases, increasing total to seven

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

The Health Ministry said the two Turkish citizens, who traveled back from New York on separate flights at the weekend, have both tested positive for the virus. Earlier on Tuesday the ministry confirmed the virus in a Turkish citizen returning from California on Saturday.

"The patients, who are in a stable condition, have been isolated and placed under observation. Their relatives and the passengers who traveled with them are being monitored," the ministry said in a statement.

"There have been no domestic cases of the virus spreading from person to person,” it added.

Turkey reported four cases of H1N1 in May -- a U.S. citizen of Iraqi origin and his mother who were flying through Turkey to Iraq, and two Turkish citizens returning from the United States. The two Iraqi-born U.S. nationals were released after being treated at a hospital in Istanbul.

The virus spreads easily and mostly causes mild ailments. It has been diagnosed in more than 17,000 people in 64 countries, and has killed more than 100, according to the World Health Organization.