Warsaw - A 37 year-old man who died recently of pneumonia was carrying the H1N1 virus, doctors announced Saturday in what was the country's first swine flu fatality.

The man died after a week in the hospital, reported the Polish Press Agency PAP.

So far in Poland this year there have been 234 cases of swine flu.

The fatality in Gdansk came as a top Polish civil rights official threatened legal action Friday against Health Minister Ewa Kopacz, saying her delay in purchasing swine flu vaccines could endanger lives and health.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk last week decided that Poland would not buy swine flu vaccines until they are proven to be safe and without side effects.

Debate on the vaccines flared up in Poland with a deadly flu outbreak in Ukraine, Poland's eastern neighbor, where 239 people have died from flu or flu-related symptoms since October 29. (dpa)