The 68-year-old man died in hospital late Tuesday. --PHOTO: REUTERS
MELBOURNE - AUSTRALIA on Wednesday said a cancer patient had become the country's seventh swine flu-related death, as the number of cases in the worst-hit Asia-Pacific nation soared to 4,370.
The 68-year-old man died in hospital late Tuesday, Victoria state's deputy chief health officer Rosemary Lester said.
'The man was being treated for a life-threatening cancer and was later diagnosed with H1N1 influenza 09,' she said. 'He died while receiving treatment in hospital.'
The announcement means six of Australia's seven H1N1 flu deaths have been in Victoria, which has recorded nearly 40 per cent of the country's A(H1N1) cases.
Ms Lester said that while the vast majority of swine flu cases were mild, 'we know that for people with chronic medical conditions, influenza can be severe.'
Eight people with H1N1 flu have died in Australia, but all had other conditions. The virus was later ruled out as the cause of death in one of the cases. -- AFP
