LONDON, June 14 (Reuters) - Britain recorded its first death from H1N1 flu on Sunday after a patient suffering from the disease died in Scotland, health officials said.
'We can confirm that one of the patients who had been in hospital, and had been confirmed as suffering from the H1N1 virus, has died today,' the Scottish government said in a statement.
'The patient had underlying health conditions,' the statement continued.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an influenza pandemic on Thursday and advised governments to prepare for a long-term battle against the virus.
The Scottish government said no further details about the patient would be released until later to allow the family time to grieve.
(Reporting by David Milliken, editing by Jon Boyle) Keywords: BRITAIN FLU/ (Reuters Messaging: david.milliken.reuters.com@reuters.net; david.milliken@reuters.com; +44 20 7542 5109) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
'We can confirm that one of the patients who had been in hospital, and had been confirmed as suffering from the H1N1 virus, has died today,' the Scottish government said in a statement.
'The patient had underlying health conditions,' the statement continued.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an influenza pandemic on Thursday and advised governments to prepare for a long-term battle against the virus.
The Scottish government said no further details about the patient would be released until later to allow the family time to grieve.
(Reporting by David Milliken, editing by Jon Boyle) Keywords: BRITAIN FLU/ (Reuters Messaging: david.milliken.reuters.com@reuters.net; david.milliken@reuters.com; +44 20 7542 5109) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.