Bhubaneswar, Aug. 2: Thirteen cases of swine flu were reported after 128 samples had been examined from various parts of the state.

Alarmed with the reported outbreak of the swine flu, the state government has asked all health officials in the district, sub-divisional and block level to get prepared to face the situation.

Health services director Kailash Chandra Das today said: "The required instructions have been issued to the field functionaries. But, no one should be worried about it. Those five patients, who have been diagnosed with swine flu, have been admitted to hospitals and are undergoing treatment. The conditions of all the patients are stable and fine."

Das said one of the patients was an 80-year-old woman, who had been admitted to hospital following a heart ailment and later was detected with the H1N1 virus during the course of investigation.

The swine flu had, in 2009, caused havoc in the state. Between 2009 and 2011, as many as 120 swine flu cases and 32 deaths were reported in the state.

In 2011-12 and 2013-14, there were two and one case detected, respectively. "But this time, we are fully prepared to deal with the situation. The suspected blood samples are being constantly sent to Regional Medical Research Centre for examination," said Das, adding that the flu patients had been detected from Kalahandi, Jagatsinghpur as well as from the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

The department has also decided to launch an awareness programme on how to avoid the disease.

Capital Hospital director Chittaranjan Das said: "We have kept five beds exclusively for the swine flu patients. The special ward is equipped with apron, mosquito nets and ventilators."