A woman in Texas has become the first US resident to die from swine flu, health officials have confirmed.
The Texas State Department of Health Services said the woman had chronic underlying health conditions and died of the virus earlier this week.
Her death follows that of a Mexican toddler late last month while he was visiting relatives in Texas with his family.
The health department said on its website that "a woman from Cameron County who had chronic underlying health conditions died earlier this week" from the H1N1 flu. However no further details about her were provided.
Swine flu facts: the virus, symptoms and treatmentThe virus has now affected 1,419 people worldwide, including 30 who have died, according to world health officials.
The woman's death comes as Mexico, the epicentre of the outbreak, plans to reopen schools and businesses as fears of a global swine flu pandemic abate.
Officials estimate that the nationwide shutdown and the devastation to the Mexican tourism industry has cost about $US2.3 billion to its economy.
The US, which is the second most affected country, has eased guidelines for school closures after indications the flu appeared less virulent than once feared.
``This is presenting itself more like seasonal flu, and in seasonal flu time, the only time a school would consider closing is when enough of the teachers and enough of the student population had gotten the flu, so that they really could not function,'' US Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said.
But she warned that there would likely be more cases, more hospitalisations and more deaths in the US.
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