A British Army soldier originally from Coleraine, Co Derry, has died after contracting swine flu (H1N1).
Bombardier Lee Porter (30), died in England last week, two weeks after contracting the bug. He had underlying health problems.
The Royal Artillery serviceman is thought to be the first member of Britain's armed forces to die from the virus.
According to The Sunnewspaper, he died on Friday at Frimley Park hospital in Surrey.
That would make him the 28th person known to have died after contracting swine flu in England.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: “It is with great sadness that the MoD must confirm the death of Bombardier Lee Porter, who contracted Swine Flu two weeks ago, which complicated existing health problems.
“Our thoughts go out to his family, who were at his bedside at the time.”
Some 150,000 people in the UK have received the anti-viral drug Tamiflu via the National Pandemic Flu Service, which launched 10 days ago.
PA