A swine flu scare occurred in Switzerland after a container carrying the virus exploded on board a train.

Swine flu latest Angela Merkel Germany's Chancellor: 'Don't panic at swine flu!' Chancellor Angela Merkel has told people in Germany not to panic over the swine flu outbreak, and that precautions are being taken against the virus.

Swine flu outbreak Three cases confirmed in Germany The first three cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Germany as the deadly virus outbreak continues to spread across the world.

Swine flu in Mexico Fears of a worldwide pandemic Fears are growing that the deadly swine flu virus - which has killed more than 100 people in Mexico - could become a worldwide pandemic.

More news Baby mammoth death 40,000-year-old animal drowned in mud Scientists in Russia have solved the death mystery of how a baby mammoth, preserved in ice for 40,000 years, died - the animal drowned in mud.

T-Mobile network crash Millions hit by phone cock-up in Germany Millions were left mute after Germany's biggest phone network T-Mobile crashed yesterday, with customers unable to make calls or send SMS messages.

Terror internet video Islamists warn of attacks on Germany A chilling terror video has been released on the internet in which Islamist extremists threaten to launch deadly attacks on Germany as a trial gets underway.

According to police sources, a technician from the National Centre for Influenza in Geneva was travelling to Zurich carrying eight glass containers, five of which held the swine flu virus.

The containers holding the virus were commissioned by the Federal Office of Public Health for the Geneva Centre in order to develop a test to detect swine flu. The vessels were, according to reports, securely packaged three times and hermetically sealed and cooled with dry ice.

The packaging of dry ice, however, was clearly not done properly, as pressure built up in the container during the journey. At 6.39 pm, shortly before the train arrived at Freiburg (Fribourg) station, there was an explosion.

One passenger suffered slight injuries. The technician gathered up parts of the container and warned the conductor. The police stopped the train just before Lusanne train station to attend to the 61 passengers in the carriage.

Then came the all clear. According to police it the containers were transporting the non-deadly strain of the virus, not the same as the strain that has killed more than 100 people in Mexico. The virologist from Geneva, from whose laboratory the tank came, arrived at the scene and insisted that there was no risk to humans.

The virus, that originated in Mexico, is spreading fast. Swine flu arrived in Europe yesterday. A man in Spain (23) and two British people have been found to be infected. However, it has been confirmed that two sick patients in Germany are not suffering from swine flu.

Yesterday evening the World Health Organisation (WHO) raised the alert level from three to four, meaning that there is an “increased risk” of a world wide pandemic of the virus.

Related news

The first three cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Germany as the worldwide outbreak continues.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has told people in Germany not to panic over the swine flu outbreak as the government is taking every precaution.