Veterinaerinstituttet, the Norwegian Veterinary Institute in Oslo this week confirmed that swine flu has been discovered in pig herds from Gudbrandsdalen and Rogaland in the South-East of the country.

Samples were taken from the herds as part of surveillance measures, after farm workers came down with flu-like illnesses shortly before the pigs became sick. According to Veterinaerinstituttet sources, it is thought the pigs were infected by ill farm workers.

This year's flu season in Norway has been severe. The intensive care unit at Oslo's Rikshospitalet National Hospital has treated a total of seven swine flu patients since New Year; there have also been a number of deaths from suspected Swine Flu.