Bhubaneswar, Aug 5: The state health and family welfare department today confirmed the death of a person due to swine flu in the city, which is the state's first swine flu death this season.

A health department source said that a 53-year-old man from Buddheswari Colony fell victim to the H1N1 virus. He succumbed to the flu while undergoing treatment at a private hospital here today. The man was diagnosed positive for the virus on August 3.

"We have confirmed his death today after examining his sample," said an official of the health and family welfare department.

So far, 32 persons have tested swine flu positive and of them, eight were detected today, the official added.

The city till today recorded 11 swine flu cases out of the total 32 across the state.

A health department source said from June 1, the state recorded 25 positive cases. The rest seven cases were reported before the onset of monsoon. According to health department records, after Bhubaneswar, Koraput recorded the second highest number of cases at four and Sundargarh and Khurda two each. Balangir, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Puri and Malkangiri recorded one positive case each so far.

Health minister Pratap Jena chaired a meeting with the department officials this evening and directed them to keep adequate medicines and awareness tool on stand-by at the three medical colleges and hospital, Capital Hospital and the district headquarters hospitals.

He also directed the officials to make the testing and treatment of the victims free at all the state-run healthcare facilities across the state.

Accordingly, the doctors and the paramedics engaged in taking care of the swine flu patients will be provided with mask and other precautionary equipment.