A 35-year-old Victorian man has become the second Australian to die after contracting swine flu.
The man from Colac, in the west of Victoria, was believed to have also suffered other medical problems and died from respiratory failure.
The man was taken to Colac Hospital on Friday with flu-like symptoms, Victorian acting chief health officer Dr Rosemary Lester said.
Swine flu facts: the virus, the symptoms and treatment "Once seen, he was intubated and ventilated to assist his breathing and transferred to the intensive care unit at Maroondah Hospital the same day," Dr Lester said.
"Unfortunately, the man's condition deteriorated and he died on Saturday evening."
Swabs were taken and results confirmed the man had contracted swine flu, Dr Lester said.
She said that in most cases human swine flu remained a mild illness , and many people recovered without any medical treatment.
"However, we know that for people with chronic medical conditions, influenza can be severe," she said.
A West Australian man was the first Australian with swine flu to die.
The 26-year-old died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital on Friday afternoon after being diagnosed with the virus on Thursday.
He had also been suffering from a number of other serious health conditions.
Email a friend