Spain reports mutant swine flu death

It is the sixth fatal case of mutated A(H1N1) virus in Europe, after one in the Netherlands and two each in France and Norway.

A patient infected by a mutant strain of the swine flu A(H1N1) virus has died in Spain, the health ministry said Friday.

- We have registered three cases of mutation, including one which was fatal. These are three isolated cases, there has been no transmission to any other person - a ministry spokesman told AFP.

It is the sixth fatal case of mutated A(H1N1) virus in Europe, after one in the Netherlands and two each in France and Norway.

Last month the World Health Organisation said that mutations had been observed in Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico --, where the swine flu pandemic began -- Ukraine and the United States as early as April.

Italy also reported a non-fatal case on Monday.

- The mutations appear to occur sporadically and spontaneously. To date, no links between the small number of patients infected with the mutated virus have been found and the mutation does not appear to spread - a WHO statement said on November 20.

The WHO also underlined that there was no evidence of more infections or more deaths as a result, while the mutated virus detected up to that point remained sensitive to antiviral drugs used to treat severe flu, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).

Scientists fear that mutations in flu viruses could cause a more virulent and deadly pandemic flu. The global health watchdog reiterated a call for close monitoring.