2009 swine flu pandemic in europe 2009 swine flu pandemic in europe the 2009 flu pandemic in europe was part of a pandemic involving a new strain of influenza, subtype h1n1. h1n1 is commonly called swine flu. the pandemic infected at least 125,550 people in europe. there were 458 confirmed deaths in turkey, 438 confirmed deaths in russia, and 457 confirmed deaths in the united kingdom.