Bhubaneswar, Aug. 14: Rama Behera, 67, a woman from Khurda district today died of swine flu at Kar Clinic here today while 21 persons tested positive.

With today's death, the toll from swine flu in the state rose to nine.

Of 21 positive cases, 12 were reported from Khurda district, two each from Puri, Cuttack and Nayagarh and one each from Sundargrah, Balasore and Bargarh districts.

So far, a total of 140 people have tested positive out of 430 suspected cases for which blood samples were drawn and screened.

The state health department authorities has urged people not to panic.

The department today circulated a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and their answers to make people aware about the swine flu and its symptoms.

The advisory explained that swine flu or influenza is a virus that causes cough or sore throat accompanied by fever.

This virus is spread from person-to-person through saliva and mucus droplets often formed when coughing or sneezing.

These droplets can also contaminate surfaces frequently touched, such as doorknobs, doors, and countertops. Sharing items such as mobile phones and laptops can also spread the virus.

The symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. People may be infected with the flu, including influenza A/H1N1 and influenza B, and have respiratory symptoms without fever.

Pregnant women, children younger than five years, but especially children younger than two years old, adults aged 65 years or above and those with chronic asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease and blood disorder are high-risk groups .