Kareem-Jabar Nathaniel Leiba died of influenza A (H1N1 virus) at the University Hospital of the West Indies after being transferred from the Spanish Town Hospital last Monday.

Spencer said the review into Leiba's death revealed he was particularly susceptible.

"The patient had underlying medical conditions, which placed him at high risk for complications and death from being infected with influenza A (H1N1)," the minister said.

Spencer also said the review into the second death indicated that the person fell within the high-risk group and died from complications to underlying medical conditions.

Leiba's grieving mother, Rochelle Grandison, told The Gleaner last week that she needed answers about how her son died, as the ministry's claim of underlined health problems opened the door to speculation.

"There are too many unanswered questions," Grandison said.

Bad handling of situation

On Saturday, Opposition Spokes-man on Health Dr Fenton Ferguson expressed concern about the ministry's handling of the flu virus.

Ferguson said that critical-care and hospitals should have adequate numbers of relevant lifesaving diagnostic machines and equipment, including oxygen tanks and ventilators.

At least one country has moved to vaccinate its population against the flu. Britain has already developed a priority list of patients for the inoculation.

Two of Jamaica's 39 swine flu victims have died while 15 of Britain's nearly 10,000 victims have perished. A Briton was confirmed on Friday as the first person without underlying health problems to have died from the virus.

Peter Holden, the British Medical Association's lead negotiator on swine flu, has warned that "if this virus does (mutate), it can get a lot more nasty".

Tips

Wash hands often.

Cover nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, preferably with a tissue.