South Africa reports first A(H1N1) flu death

JOHANNESBURG: Health officials say that a college student has become the first South African to die from A(H1N1) flu.

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The 22-year-old male student from the University of Stellenbosch, near Cape Town, died July 28 after being sick for a week.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said that the H1N1 virus was confirmed as the cause of death Monday.

The student went to the campus clinic with flu symptoms but was later admitted to a private hospital. He was treated for pneumonia but did not recover.

There have been more than 500 swine flu cases reported in South Africa since mid-June. Some schools in Johannesburg have temporarily closed after pupils tested positive for swine flu.