Two more H1N1 deaths reported in Minnesota

Two more Minnesotans have died after contracting H1N1 influenza.

An elderly person and a child, both with underlying health conditions died after contracting the new flu strain.

The Minnesota Department of Health says the elderly patient had been hospitalized for unrelated medical problems and the child had been battling an extensive bacterial infection. Both patients were from the Twin Cities area.

Last month, another Twin Cities-area child with underlying medical problems was the first Minnesotan to die after contracting the flu virus.

The Health Department has predicted Minnesota would see some flu deaths and say the latest deaths do not mean that the virus has gotten more severe.