Bengaluru: The sudden outbreak of Influenza-A (H1N1) cases across the state has got the government worried.

On Sunday (October 14), a meeting was conducted by the Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara with other senior officials of the Bengaluru corporation and health ministry.

Talking to India Today, Parameshwara said that this year (till October 10), at least six people have succumbed to H1N1 while two of those deaths were witnessed in Bengaluru.

"We thought it is necessary for us to take precautionary measures throughout the state so that more people do not die," he said. As on October 12, according to data released by the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services, 456 of 4,902 samples tested since January turned out positive across the state.

Nonetheless, Shivamogga has recorded 49 positive cases while Bengaluru has so far seen 100 positive cases.

Commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Manjunath Prasad, said that there had been just two deaths reported in Bengaluru and when compared to the previous years, the spread of the virus has been limited.

Prasad also added that the sudden increase in cases occur during the winter and monsoon months and then disappear. But the civic administration, according to him, has activated all local government hospitals and private hospitals to be ready to deal with more cases in case the need arises.

"Now, we have a system in Bengaluru where all the private hospitals report every case to the municipal corporation so that we can reach out to the patient and take necessary action," Prasad said.

This disease is caused by influenza A, a virus which is transmitted to humans from pigs. H1N1 can be fatal if not treated on time. The symptoms include cough, sore throat, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting.

 

Also Read: Karnataka: Sudden increase in swine flu cases; doctor says ‘no reason to panic’