KATHMANDU:The 19-year-old woman quarantined in Teku Hospital was released today after she tested negative for swine flu virus A (H1N1).

The special health desk at Tribhuvan International Airport put the woman, who had returned to Nepal from Dubahi via India with common symptoms of the much-talked swine flu, in medical observation on Wednesday.

The woman, a stage performer, identified as Kamala Shrestha, was returning home via India after performing a cultural show in Dubahi.

The Hospital had sent the throat swab of the woman to Bangkok for test to confirm whether or not Shrestha was infected with the virus. Dr Gajananda P Bhandari, epidemiologist and coordinator of the special health desk, informed that she was released after she had tested negative for the virus. Dr Saroj Prasad Rajendra, the hospital director, confirmed it saying that the Bangkok report had negated the rumour.

"The medical report showed that she had caught seasonal flu with symptoms of sore throat and fever. It's our pleasure to see her off without the virus," he said. Earlier, the health officials had identified her as a UAE national.