The adult from the Ayrshire and Arran NHS health board area died after contracting the H1N1. The patient, whose gender has not been revealed for reasons of confidentiality, had a “significant” underlying health condition.

The death is the second confirmed death from the bug in the past 24 hours in the area and brings the total number of deaths to 32.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "My deepest sympathy is with the patient's family and friends during this heartbreaking time.

"Fortunately, for most, H1N1 is mild and symptoms shouldn't persist longer than a week, but some people are at greater risk of influenza complications and that is why priority groups have been identified as part of the vaccination programme.

"Everyone who is in the priority groups will be invited, by their GP, to take up the vaccine. The first phase of the programme is already underway and people will be invited on a rolling basis."

On Thursday, an adult from Ayrshire and Arran, who also had signficant underlying health concerns, died.

It follows confirmation of three deaths in the Glasgow and Ayrshire areas over the weekend. On Monday, the government announced that an elderly person from NHS Fife area had died.

A total of 367,000 doses of the swine flu vaccine are expected to be supplied to health boards by Friday. It will enable those in priority groups, including pregnant women and healthcare workers, to be innoculated.

The Government’s target is for 1.3m people in the at-risk areas to have received jabs against the H1N1 virus by Christmas.

The Scottish Government urges anyone with concerns about flu-like symptoms contact your GP for advice or call NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24.