Essen - Germany has had its first confirmed swine flu fatality, medical tests released Thursday confirmed. The 36-year-old woman died of multiple organ and lung failure on September 25. Extensive tests showed that the H1N1 virus - commonly known as swine flu - was the cause of death, the University Clinic in Essen said.
The woman, a heavily obese smoker, was considered a high risk patient. The H1N1 virus had made her susceptible to a host of other bacteria, doctors said.
She died ten days after being transferred to the hospital, following complications related to the viral infection.
