Bhubaneswar, March 3: A 56-year-old woman died of swine flu at a private hospital here, the fifth victim of the H1N1 virus in the state.

Health department officials said the woman, who hailed from Berhampur in Ganjam district, was admitted to the hospital on February 25 and her condition was critical. She had been on ventilators since that day and succumbed late last night.

Doctor K.C. Dash, director, public health, said like the previous swine flu deaths, this woman, too, was admitted to the hospital at the last moment when her condition was critical.

"The hospital authorities informed us that they had tried their best, but could not save her as her condition was already critical by the time she was admitted," said Dash.

He said the woman had spent a month in north India where the virus has spread its tentacles and has taken several lives.

The woman after returning from the trip caught cold. Her family members first consulted a few doctors in their locality and after she was found swine flu positive, she was admitted to the hospital here.

"We have provided medicines to the family members of the woman who had come in contact with her. We have adopted the same practice for the relatives of all those who have been detected swine flu positive," said a health department officer.

Sources said till date 94 samples had been sent for testing. Out of them 14 have been found positive.

While five patients, who were found affected by the H1N1 virus, died of the flu, nine could be cured due to proper treatment at right time.

Dash said the patients could be saved if they were admitted to the hospital on time. In a recent national-level seminar, all the doctors cited the same reason behind the swine flu deaths all over the country.

Most of the patients are admitted when the flu enters the third category or critical stage.

The patients are provided with ventilator facilities, but it hardly helps to cure them.

"We have divided the flu into three categories and have instructed all the doctors to check which category a patient's condition falls. They would accordingly provide treatment and when they find someone in category-B they would immediately send the throat swab of the patients for test," said the director.

Besides patients with other ailments like diabetes or respiratory diseases must be treated with urgency for the flu.

Along with this, the awareness campaigns are also under way where patients are told about the symptoms of the flu. They should not delay whenever they feel they are unwell and suffering from cold and flu like symptoms.

The basic preventive tips include avoiding a crowded place, wearing mask around mouth and nose and most importantly, cleaning hands with soap before taking meal and water.

Despite the fifth death incident in the state, the health department officials said there was nothing to panic, as the condition in Odisha is not alarming like other states, including some neighbouring ones.