2009 swine flu pandemic in norway 2009 swine flu pandemic in norway the 2009–2010 flu pandemic in norway marked the initial phase of a new influenza pandemic. this pandemic began in the spring of 2009, the illness appeared in tourists returning from affected areas. by the summer of 2009, local person-to-person transmission within norway was established. soon thereafter, the number of patients being tested for swine flu exceeded capacity, and authorities recommended that only patients with severe symptoms be tested. the first norwegian death from swine flu was reported in early september 2009.