Indonesia has confirmed its first death linked to the H1N1 flu virus after a 6-year-old girl suffering from severe pneumonia died in Jakarta, the health ministry said.

The girl was admitted to hospital with fever, coughs and respiratory problems, the ministry said on its website. She died on July 22.

The World Health Organization has confirmed 800 deaths globally from the H1N1 virus, which has spread to 160 countries.

But health experts say that figure does not reflect the true number of people killed by the virus. Flu can kill people in various ways, including by causing pneumonia, heart attack, stroke or multiple organ failure.

Indonesia has confirmed 343 people have been infected with the H1N1 flu strain as of July 24.

Medicine