N Zealand reports first 3 swine flu-linked deaths

Updated at: 1050 PST, Saturday, July 04, 2009

WELLINGTON: New Zealand health officials confirmed the country's first three swine flu-related deaths Saturday two discovered only after autopsies on the victims. Chief Coroner, Judge Neil MacLean, said preliminary tests on two male victims indicated ``a high degree of probability'' that swine flu caused the deaths. ``We can't say 100 percent, but the probability is so high that it's unlikely that will change,'' he told reporters.