Japanese soccer player hospitalized with swine flu

TOKYO (AP) — A member of the Japanese women's under-19 soccer team has been hospitalized with swine flu following a recent trip to China.

Ryoko Takara returned to Japan on Thursday after playing in a tournament in Wuhan, China. The Nikkan Sports daily reported on Saturday that she was quarantined in a Kobe hospital a day later after showing symptoms of the virus.

Takara's temperature has dropped since being hospitalized and her condition has improved.

The Japan Football Association said none of Takara's teammates have shown symptoms of the virus.

A Japanese man infected with swine flu died Saturday, becoming the country's first fatality linked to the virus. The health ministry said on Saturday that more than 7,300 Japanese have been infected with swine flu.