Dhaka  - Authorities in Bangladesh Monday confirmed the first death from swine flu as the number of H1N1 virus infections reached 213 in the South Asian country.

"A swine-flu positive patient died Sunday night after being treated at a private Dhaka hospital for more than a week," Mahmudur Rahman, the director of the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research, said.

The government called a special meeting following the report of the death, sounding the alert against spread of the virus which has infected at least 213 people since the authorities detected the first case on June 19 in Dhaka.

The Health Ministry said most of the infected people had been cured, while a few were suffering from mild flu.

Officials said special medical teams were taking care of the infected patients and the government supply of anti-viral drugs to private and pubic hospitals was satisfactory.

But they warned that the situation might worsen in the coming winter, set to begin in late September, as the H1N1 virus spreads easily in the dry season. (dpa)