The swine flu virus has claimed its first Caribbean victim, a pregnant Dominican Republic teenager who also had tuberculosis. She died yesterday. Dominican Republic officials did not have extensive details to provide but issued a brief statement.

As of yesterday, the Dominican Republic has 44 confirmed swine flu cases, and officials have said the vast majority of patients do not require hospitalization. The disease has spread to 69 countries, and within the Caribbean, Barbados, Cuba, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago are among the countries that have reported swine flu cases.

Health officials in the Dominican Republic have confirmed another nine Swine Flu cases in that country, raising its current total Swine Flu cases to 11. The new cases include six youngsters who were enrolled at the Carol Morgan School, an International school located in the D.R. with over 1100 students from over 30 countries.

All nine new cases are reported to be in good state of health and recovering.