One more dies of swine flu in Odisha, toll rises to 5

Bhubaneswar: One more person succumbed to swine flu in Odisha on Tuesday, raising the toll due to the H1N1 virus to 5 in the state this season.

A 56-year old woman, who had been admitted to a private hospital here few days back after being tested positive for H1N1 virus, became the latest victim, a health department official said.

The woman, who hailed from Aska Road in Berhampur, was in a critical condition, he said.

With this death, swine flu has claimed five lives in the state so far as four persons had earlier fallen prey to the H1N1 influenza, he said.

As many as 94 swab samples have been sent for laboratory test this year and 14 of them have tested positive for swine flu, the official said.

Stating that there was no need for panic, he said the number of people affected by the disease in Odisha was much less than that in other states.

According to Odisha's Health and Family Welfare minister Atanu S Nayak, the state was fully prepared to face any situation and had enough stock of medicine for swine flu.

All precautionary measures have been taken by the Government and the hospitals are fully prepared to handle swine flu cases properly, a senior official said.

While isolation wards have been set up in district hospitals and medical colleges for swine flu patients, doctors are keeping a close watch on the situation, he said, adding steps have also been taken to raise awareness among people about the disease.