Hong Kong has just confirmed the death of a patient from the Wuhan virus.

This is the first death from the virus in the city.

39-year-old died on Feb. 4

South China Morning Post reported that the patient, a 39-year-old man, was being treated in Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung.

The patient died on Feb. 4, 2020 due to sudden heart failure, according to several medical sources. It is uncertain if the deceased is a Chinese national or a Hong Kong citizen.

He has however been to Wuhan on Jan. 21 and returned to Hong Kong two days later. He then developed a fever on Jan. 31.

According to information disclosed by the Centre for Health Protection, the man had underlying health issues.

This is the second reported death of a patient from the virus outside of mainland China.

The first death occurred in the Philippines on Feb. 1, involving a 44-year-old resident of Wuhan who had travelled to the country.

However, the World Health Organisation (WHO), who announced the death in a tweet, did not reveal if the patient was a Chinese national, or a citizen of the Philippines.

There are currently 15 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Hong Kong.

In mainland China, the death toll has risen to 425, and 19,550 people are infected.

Top photo from Xinhua