Johannesburg - Health authorities in South Africa on Monday reported the first swine flu death in the country where around 500 cases of the H1N1 flu virus have thusfar been reported.

A 22-year-old male student at Stellenbosch University in Western Cape province died last week of a cardiac arrest caused by the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said in a statement.

The student first presented at the campus clinic for flu-like symptoms on July 20. After several days, he was referred by a doctor to a private hospital for treatment and admitted to intensive care, where he died.

Tests on the victim carried out by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases revealed the presence of swine flu.

Most of the swine flu cases reported in South Africa since the virus was first detected in Mexico in April have been mild. (dpa)