2009 swine flu pandemic in south america 2009 swine flu pandemic in south america the 2009 flu pandemic in south america was part of a global epidemic in 2009 of a new strain of influenza a virus subtype h1n1, causing what has been commonly called swine flu. as of 9 june 2009, the virus had affected at least 2,000 people in south america, with at least 4 confirmed deaths. on 3 may 2009, the first case of the flu in south america was confirmed in a colombian man who recently travelled from mexico – since then, it has spread throughout the continent. by far, the most affected country has been chile, with more than 12,000 confirmed cases, 104 deaths, and the highest per capita incidence in the world.