South Australia state health officials told Reuters that the man who died at Royal Adelaide Hospital had several major illnesses, but did not say exactly how he died.

"Although the patient was diagnosed as positive for swine flu yesterday, his other medical conditions had dramatically deterioriated by the time he got to Adelaide," said South Australia state chief medical officer Paddy Phillips.

"It is with deep sadness and regret that we announce his death, and we offer our most sincere condolences to his family."

Australian radio said the man, from a remote aboriginal community in Western Australia state, was flown to Adelaide for medical treatment for pneumonia.

Australia has more than 2,199 cases of H1N1, with several patients in intensive care, but it has not recorded a death from the influenza