Swine flu toll climbs to 3 in Odisha

Swine flu claimed two more lives in Odisha on Tuesday as the toll climbed to three this year, an official said.

While one death was reported at SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack, another person succumbed while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Bhubaneswar, said a health department official.

Earlier, the first swine flu death of this season was reported from a private hospital in the capital city on Saturday.

The number of affected persons increased to 59 with 13 fresh cases being reported on Tuesday.

Of the 24 swab samples, 13 were tested positive for the H1N1 virus at the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) here on Tuesday, the official said.

Meanwhile, 38 people are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the state, he added.

Notably, the state government has directed the hospitals to create isolated wards for the swine flu patients.

The government also issued guidelines for the general public on dos and don'ts to increase the awareness drive to prevent the spread of influenza.

--IANS

cd/pgh/vm