An investigation is underway to establish whether the death of a man in his 40s was caused by swine flu.Managers at the West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, have confirmed that NHS East of England had been alerted to a suspected death from swine flu.

An investigation is under way to establish whether the death of a man in his 40s was caused by swine flu.

Managers at the West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, have confirmed that NHS East of England had been alerted to a suspected death from swine flu.

The case is believed to involve a man thought to be 40 years old who was taken into the Hardwick Lane hospital.

Efforts are being made to establish the exact cause of the man's death, which has been referred to the coroner's office in Bury St Edmunds.

The most recent figures released by NHS East of England reveal seven people have died in the eastern region as a result of swine flu.

A spokesman for the hospital, where 300 of more than 2,000 workers have so far been vaccinated against swine flu, said all cases of possible swine flu had to be reported to NHS East of England and confirmed the death of the man in his 40s was one of those cases.

A spokesman from NHS East of England said: "NHS East of England is aware of this sad death. The case is with the coroner's office and, until we know the cause of death, we cannot comment any further."