A 52-year-old man has become the seventh person in Scotland to die after contracting swine flu.

The patient who died on Wednesday night in Edinburgh's Western General Hospital had significant underlying health problems.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon offered her sympathy to the man’s family. She said: "I extend my sincere condolences to the patient's family and friends at this very sad time.

"As we have seen in previous cases, this patient was suffering from underlying health conditions and his death should not cause alarm among the general population.

 "Fortunately in the vast majority of cases, most people have fairly mild symptoms and make a full recovery within a week.

“But it's important that you get the help you need as quickly as possible if you believe you are at greater risk."

Health officials have also released the latest H1N1 figurers in Scotland. The rate of people visiting their GP for flu-like illnesses – not necessarily swine flu – is 39.4 per 100,000.

It is estimated that around 3,300 people have contracted swine flu in the past week.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Today's figures show that overall levels of illness which may be due to H1N1 remain similar to last week with only a slight increase in the number of people consulting their GP with flu-like symptoms, and a slight increase in the number of overall estimated cases.”