The first death caused by the AH1N1 virus in recent times was reported from Polonnaruwa on December 26 afternoon, hospital director Dr. Indika Sampath Kumara said.
The victim was identified as D.G. Kanchana, 20, a mother of one from Aluthwewa, Polonnaruwa New Town.
She had contracted the disease at child birth and was being treated at the hospital ICU. Although President Maithripala Sirisena dispatched a team of specialist doctors and equipment by air from the Karapitiya Hospital to Polonnaruwa to help save her life, the patient died at around 1.30 p.m. on December 26 before the special team arrived in Polonnaruwa.
Dr. Kumara said the death had been caused due to a complication resulting from excessive water accumulation in the lungs.