A woman in her early 30s died of the A(H1N1) virus while undergoing treatment at the Bir Hospital, the head of the hospital's intensive care unit, Brahma Dev Jha told AFP.

"This is the first case of swine flu death in our country," he said.

The woman, whose name was not disclosed, was admitted to the hospital two weeks ago and was put in an intensive care ward.

"She died after suffering multiple organ failure two days ago," said Jha.

Authorities in landlocked Nepal stepped up checks at borders and airports after the first swine flu cases were detected in June this year.

More than 11,500 people have died from swine flu worldwide since the pandemic strain was uncovered in April, according to the World Health Organisation.

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