First swine flu death on Martinique island

September 18, 2009 03:30:16 PM

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An 18-month-old child died Thursday on Martinique after succumbing to the swine flu, becoming the French Caribbean island's first victim, health officials said.

The child, who had serious health problems, died following lung inflammation brought on by the influenza A(H1N1) virus, according to health officials on the French overseas territory.

The death took to 28 the number of French nationals who have died from the swine flu: five in mainland France, five on Reunion Island, nine in New Caledonia, six in French Polynesia, one in French Guiana and another vacationing in Greece.