The first swine flu death in Odisha this year was reported from a private hospital here on Saturday, a Minister said.

A man from Vizag in Andhra Pradesh succumbed while undergoing treatment at a private city hospital, Health Minister Pratap Jena said.The victim was presently staying in Bhubaneswar.The Minister said of the 154 samples from the state that were sent for testing, 24 were found positive for the H1N1 virus.The Minister asked the people not to panic, saying the Health Department is fully prepared to meet the situation.

"We are making people aware of the seasonal disease. Besides, government hospitals and medical colleges, private hospitals have been asked to create isolation wards to treat swine flu patients. The government is providing free medicines," said Jena.The state government has issued guidelines for hospitals to tackle swine flu. It also issued do's and don'ts for the general public and increased the awareness drive to prevent the spread of influenza.