A 51-year-old male patient who tested positive for Influenza A/H1N1 died here Wednesday, bringing the total number of A/H1N1-related deaths to 31 in the city, Hong Kong's Hospital Authority announced.

According to the Hospital Authority, the man had a history of Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease. He was admitted to the Accident and Emergency Department of Pok Oi Hospital due to shortness of breath on Oct. 11. The patient became critically ill on Oct. 12 and tested positive of Influenza A/H1N1 on the same day. He was certified dead at 7:50 a.m. on Wednesday.

The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Center for Health Protection.

One more critical cases of confirmed A/ H1N1 flu was also reported on Wednesday, involving a 54-year-old male patient with a history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension in Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital.