2 more H1N1 deaths in N.S.

Two people with the swine flu virus have died in Nova Scotia in less than a week, provincial health officials confirmed Tuesday.

A man from Pictou County and a woman from the Halifax area both in their early 40s died from complications of the H1N1 virus sometime between last Tuesday and Saturday.

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief public health officer, said both people had underlying health conditions. He did not release any other details, citing privacy concerns of the patients and their families.

"We do see severe illness and deaths and I've said that all along," he said. "We expect to see that."

The latest victims are the youngest people in the province to die from the swine flu, and it is thefirst time a male has died from H1N1.

Strang said the deaths are a reminder that the pandemic is still a reality.

"Ultimately, we've said all along that we may get a third wave, but the way that we're going to prevent having a third wave is by having a significant number of people get immunized."

There have been five H1N1-related deaths to date in Nova Scotia.