A patient suffering from swine flu has died in hospital in Scotland, becoming the first person outside the Americas to have been killed by the virus.

The Scottish government disclosed that the patient, thought to be from the Paisley area and one of 10 Scots in hospital with the H1N1 virus, had underlying health problems.

Last night the victim was locally identified as a 38-year-old woman from Glasgow, who had prematurely given birth to a baby in recent days. She had been in intensive care at the Royal Alexandra hospital in Paisley, where a large number of those infected with the H1N1 virus have been treated. Health officials said earlier today that nearly 500 people in Scotland had been diagnosed with the virus, with a majority in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

The Scottish government released a statement shortly before 8pm tonight, stating: “With regret, we can confirm that one of the patients who had been in hospital and had been confirmed as suffering from the H1N1 virus, has died today. At the family’s request, to allow them time to come to terms with their loss, no further details will be released tonight.”

Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish health secretary, said: “I’d like to express my condolences to the patient’s family and friends,” she said. “This is a tragedy for those concerned and they have my heartfelt sympathy. Tragic though today’s death is, I would like to emphasise that the vast majority of those who have H1N1 are suffering from relatively mild symptoms.”