Kiwi dies of swine flu in Canada

A New Zealand man has died from swine flu in Calgary, Canada. Photo / Greg Bowker

A New Zealand man who died from swine flu (H1N1) complications in Canada this week developed the disease before arriving, Alberta's chief medical officer said yesterday.

The man was in Calgary for WorldSkills 2009, an event that sees young professionals from trades, service and technical programs around the world compete and show off their talents.

Chief medical officer Doctor Andre Corriveau said the man had minimal contact with others attending the event.

The Edmonton Journal reported the man was the stepfather of a female competitor in the New Zealand team.

Peter Spencer, the chief executive of WorldSkills New Zealand, said the competitor was struggling with the sudden death.

"We're trying to help the family right now, trying to help them sort it out. "

The victim, a middle-aged man did not have flu-like symptoms when he arrived in Calgary on August 28.

The man became sick the next day after having come into contact with the flu virus on the airplane or in New Zealand, Dr Corriveau said.

He went to a Calgary hospital emergency department on Wednesday and was immediately suspected as having flu and treated in isolation.

No indication was given by Canadian authorities of whether the man had pre-existing health issues that would make him more vulnerable to infection.

He died on Thursday morning.

New Zealand team spokesperson Peter Spencer said the competitor had withdrawn from the international skills event after the death but the rest of the team would continue on.

"We are from New Zealand. We don't give up," he said.

The New Zealand team has 17 competitors.

Dr Corriveau said no relatives or people the man had come into contact with had shown signs of illness.

The man had travelled on a separate airplane and stayed in a different hotel than the New Zealand team, so had had little contact with any participants.

- NZPA