Swine flu toll climbs to 3 in Odisha

Bhubaneswar Aug 8 (IANS) 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
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