Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

65-year Maldivian man with no recent history of travel abroad died on Nov. 18. MALE, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Maldivian health authorities onNov. 19confirmed the Indian Ocean archipelago's first death from the H1N1 flu virus.

65-year Maldivian man with no recent history of travel abroad died on Nov. 18, the first death reported from the flu, Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed, senior medical officer at the Centre for Community Health and Disease, told Reuters.

Four local and two foreigners have already tested positive for the flu, since detected first on Jul. 25.

"All six cases that we have previously reported were imported. This is the first case of local transmission. We realise the virus is circulating in the Maldives," said Jamsheed.

All six had already recovered, he said.

Authorities of the island nations, best-known for luxury tropical hideaways and unspoiled beaches, have been screening all visitors at airports and sea ports, since April.