Orissa reports first swine flu death this year

BHUBANESWAR - A 56-year-old woman died of swine flu at a private hospital here, the first death in the state from the pandemic H1N1 virus this year, a senior health official said.

“The woman from city’s Sailashree Vihar area tested positive for swine flu on July 30. She was kept on ventilator at a private hospital where she succumbed to the illness,” Bikash Patnaik, joint director in the state health directorate, told IANS.

There are at least five other patients, who tested positive for the H1N1 virus during the last two weeks, and are currently undergoing treatment at different hospitals. ONe of them has fully recovered and the others are recovering, he said.

Two patients were receiving treatment at Cuttack city, 26 km from here, while three were receiving treatment in Bhubaneswar, he said.

India reported its first swine flu death on August last year, while the first case was recorded on May 16, 2009.