Two die from mutated H1N1 virus in France
 

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From the BNO Newsroom.

PARIS (BNO NEWS) -- Two people have died from a mutated version of the H1N1 swine flu virus that was first found in Norway, health officials told BNO News on Friday.

A spokeswoman for the French Ministry of Health and Solidarity confirmed two patients had died from the mutated virus, but had no information on where and when they died.

The mutated virus was first found in Norway and revealed by scientists last week. According to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, in a statement last week, two patients there had died from the mutated virus while another patient survived.

The institute at the time said that the mutated virus would be more prone to infect deeper in the airways and thus cause more severe illness. Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health said the virus was believed to be contained.

But a French health official told BNO News that the patients who died from the virus in France had not visited Norway. It was not clear where or when they may have been infected.

Asked if people should be concerned, the official said their first task is to inform the public and are now investigating the situation. She said no other cases of the mutated virus have been found in France.

There was no immediate word from the World Health Organization on the development..

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