Ten people who were sickened on a Dubai-to-New York flight-from-hell tested positive for some form of flu or cold virus, city health officials revealed Thursday.
“A majority of the tests showed common viruses such as influenza and the common cold. Unfortunately, tests for other viruses were inconclusive. This is not unusual when testing, but it means we have to re-test some samples today and expect to have full results in the afternoon,” the Department of Health said in a statement.
All 10 patients are being kept in the hospital as a precaution, mayoral spokesman Eric Phillips tweeted.
Initial reports said that 100 people had flu-like symptoms on the 14-hour trip aboard Emirates Flight 203, and the double-decker Airbus A380 was greeted by a phalanx of federal, state and local officials when it landed at JFK on Wednesday morning.
First responders spent three hours checking all 549 passengers, including taking their temperatures. In the end, seven crew members and three passengers were taken to Jamaica Hospital for further treatment.



