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PODGORICA, June 22 (Reuters) - Montenegro confirmed its first case of the H1N1 flu virus in a patient who flew in from the United States, its health minister said on Monday.

"The patient, a native of Montenegro's coastal city of Bar, was studying in the U.S.. He arrived by plane from New York, via Munich to Podgorica," Miodrag Radunovic said.

The patient is in a Podgorica hospital and his condition is improving. "He does not have a fever any longer," Radunovic told a news conference.

Montenegrin authorities are monitoring people who were in close contact with the patient and have asked them to go to hospital if they develop flu-like symptoms.

It is still unclear whether the outbreak of H1N1 flu will affect Montenegro's summer holiday season. The Adriatic country generates most of its revenue from tourism. (Reporting by Petar Komnenic; Writing by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Robert Woodward)

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