The Norwegian Institute of Public Health say they are monitoring closely the deadly outbreak of swine flu in Mexico, adding it is working with the government to assess any threat posed to the public.

At least 80 people in Mexico are reportedly thought to have died after contracting a new strain of flu also linked to an outbreak of swine flu in the US.

According to the WHO, some of those affected in Mexico had tested positive for a strain - H1N1 - that had infected at least seven people in the south-western US.

The WHO concern is that this strain has the potential to spread rapidly because it appears to be passing easily from human to human.

There have been no confirmed cases so far in Europe.

(NRK/Aftenposten)

Rolleiv Solholm