MEXICO CITY,  (Xinhua) -- Mexico's Health Ministry confirmed the country's first death of COVID-19, a 41-year-old man who suffered from diabetes.

The victim, who has not been identified, appeared to have contracted the disease in Mexico, because he had not recently traveled abroad.

"Today in Mexico, the first person died from COVID-19," the ministry posted on Twitter late Wednesday night.

"His symptoms began March 9," the ministry added.

The man was receiving treatment at the National Institute for Respiratory Diseases (INER), located in southern Mexico City.

The man's wife told reporters outside the hospital that they attended a hard rock concert on March 3 at the city's Palacio de los Deportes (Sports Palace) arena. Later, her husband developed flu symptoms. It wasn't until March 9 that he was admitted to the INER, she said.

Mexico has 118 confirmed cases of the virus, according to the last ministry report issued on Wednesday.  ■