A 31-year-old man has died of A/H1N1 flu, the first death from the epidemic reported in Laos, the Vientiane Times reported on Thursday.

The man, who lived in Lao province of Borikhamxay, had a history of respiratory problems, obesity and diabetes, said the newspaper. The man, who was not identified, was also a heavy smoker and drinker.

Lifestyle-related factors could lower the man's immunity to the A/H1N1 virus, said Bounlay Phommasack, head of Lao National Emerging Infection Disease Coordination Office.

According to his family, the man had never been abroad before. He showed flu-like symptoms on July 9 and was transferred from a provincial hospital to Lao capital city of Vientiane on July 17. The man died later that day.

Other family members of the man were tested negative to the A/H1N1 virus, said the newspaper.

So far, Laos has reported 56 influenza A/H1N1 cases.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2009)