Panama has confirmed one death of A/H1N1 flu, the first in the country, the Health Ministry said on Monday.

The victim, a nine-month-old baby from the country's western Cocle Province, had a congenital malformation and had been hospitalized, Health Minister Franklin Vergara said.

The baby did not had flu-like symptoms when he was admitted to the hospital but was tested positive for the flu virus later, the minister added.

Panama reported 17 new flu cases this week, bringing the total confirmed cases to 541. But about 88 percent of the patients have recovered.

The country reported its first A/H1N1 flu infection on May 8.

(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2009)