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The drop may be a sign of the ban's impact on heart illness, The Times of London reported Saturday.

Some medical centers have experienced a drop of up to a 41 percent in heart attack admissions since July 2007, data shows.

The British Heart Foundation said figures prove the new legislation is the "most significant public health initiative this century."

Research in Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy also has shown a slide in heart attack cases in hospitals, the Times said.

Scotland and Ireland adopted a ban on smoking in public places two years ago.

The Department of Health said the data is "good news", but it is too soon to decree the drop in heart attack cases is a direct result of the ban.

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