Bhubaneswar, March 1: Swine flu, which appears to have assumed epidemic proportions in the country, claimed another life in the state Sunday, raising the toll to four.
A 34-year old woman, who had been admitted to a private hospital here February 27 after being tested positive for H1N1 virus, became the latest victim, state public health director Kailash Chandra Dash said.
The woman from Puri district was in a critical condition and she had been put on life support system, he said. With the fresh death, swine flu has claimed four lives in the state so far as three persons had earlier fallen prey to the H1N1 virus, he said.
As many as 87 swab samples have been sent for laboratory test this year and 13 of them were tested positive to swine flu, the official said.
Stating that there was no need for panic, he said number of people affected by the disease in Orissa was much less than that in other states.
According to state 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 hospitals are fully prepared to handle swine flu cases properly, according to Dash.
While isolation wards have been set up in district hospitals and medical colleges for swine flu patients, doctors were keeping a close watch on the situation, he said adding steps have been taken to create awareness about the disease. Agencies
