Bhubaneswar, Aug. 13: Swine flu claimed another life at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack today. With this, the death toll from the disease in the state this season has risen to nine. The deceased, a native of Salipur area in Cuttack, was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday.

Today, 28 blood samples were screened of which 16 tested positive (seven male and 9 female) for the disease. SUM Hospital in Bhuban-eswar and SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack are treating three patients each, while two each are being treated at Kar Clinic and Shree Hospital in Bhubane-swar and Vimsar in Burla. Besides, patients are also undergoing treatment at Hitech Medical College, Sun Shine Hospital, KKIMS and Care hospital in Bhubaneswar.

So far, 342 blood samples have been screened, of which 103 have been found to be positive for swine flu.

The state government is taking all possible steps to tackle the outbreak in the state, said health secretary P.K. Meherda here today after a review meeting.

"There is no need to panic even though other parts of the country have reported a spurt in positive cases and casualties. Most of the swine flu cases reported in Odisha are migration cases," said Meherda.

Stating that vaccinations were only being given to doctors and other paramedical staff engaged in treating swine flu patients, he advised the general public not to take vaccines without consulting doctors.

However, many people have alleged that the health department was not taking any measures to tackle the situation.

Anti-malaria drive

A special programme will shortly be launched to prevent the spread of malaria in remote areas of Ganjam district. The drive has been named as "Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran" (Damon).

Health officials have identified more than 135 remote villages under the jurisdiction of five community health centres as malaria-prone areas.

The community health centres have been identified as Patrapur, Adapada, Badagada, Dharakote and Gallery. "We have decided to hold camps in these remote areas for mass test for malaria. As many as 103 camps will be held in the next three months," chief district medical officer Saroj Mishra said, adding that 15,000 people would be covered under the programme.

District malaria officer Uma Shankar Mishra said that insecticidal DDT would be sprayed in the malaria-prone villages.