The man, whose name was not immediately released, died on Monday.  He was in his 40s, according to the ODH.

The death was the first in the state linked to the pandemic strain of influenza.  Health officials said that the man had underlying health problems that may have contributed to his death.

"Our hearts go out to this man's family and loved ones," said ODH Director Alvin D. Jackson, M.D. "This is a sad, and not entirely unexpected, event as influenza and its complications cause some 3,000 deaths annually in Ohio, ranking it among the top 10 causes of death. We continue to urge Ohioans to take proper precautions and will monitor the situation closely."

There have been 332 H1N1 deaths worldwide, including 127 in the United States, according to the World Health Organization.

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