Ecuador reported on Monday the third death in the country of the A/H1N1 influenza, bringing the total to 213 in the country, according to Ecuadorian Health Ministry.

Ecuadorian Health Minister Caroline Chang told the press that the death of the patient was confirmed after reporting the first two deaths on Friday.

The third patient was a male of 72 years old who died on Sunday at 4:30 a.m. local time (0930 GMT) in the public Hospital of Riobamba.

Chang said that the patient was assisted by a private doctor, but since he did not improve his condition he was taken to the intensive care unit of Riobama hospital, where he was diagnosed with the H1N1 flu.

"Despite the doctors gave him Tamiflu for many days, the patient did not resist. The patient also had cancer," Chang said.

Ecuador reported its first confirmed case of H1N1 flu on May 15. The most affected province continues being Guayas with more than 100 confirmed cases.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2009)