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U.S. national team star Landon Donovan has tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus, Donovan told Sports Illustrated on Thursday.
Donovan first felt ill and was tested on Sunday in Miami, three days before the U.S. team's World Cup qualifying loss to Mexico, and learned of the positive result for the virus on Thursday. He played a full 90 minutes on Wednesday unaware that he was carrying the virus.
"I haven't felt that way in a game in a long time," Donovan told SI.com about Wednesday's loss to Mexico. "During the game and even after the game I thought maybe it was the altitude, the heat, whatever. But even so I've never felt that bad. The last time I was there [at Estadio Azteca] I didn't feel that bad. I just felt lethargic, slow. I didn't feel normal."
The flu confirmation does provide some context for what was a surprisingly disappointing performance for Donovan, who had been on a tear with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Donovan is the latest high-profile figure to have a confirmed case of what has become commonly known as Swine Flu. Oscar Arias, the president of Costa Rica, has also contracted the H1N1 flu virus.
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