Bangalore:
The number of those dead in Karnataka from the H1N1 influenza virus now stands at 47, with Bangalore alone reporting 36 deaths -- the highest in India.
Twenty nine-year-old Binoosh has none of the classic symptoms that would put him on H1N1 alert. He came to the screening centre because his office asked him to, as a precaution.
"When I came to Bangalore, I used to see everyone wearing a mask in bus stand, railway station. First time when people heard of H1N1 everyone was scared, but now it is ok," Binoosh said.
There would be long queues of people waiting to get tested for H1N1 virus in the city, but now those numbers have dwindled. The panic isn't there, but the casualty numbers are mounting and that is puzzling.
Bangalore's climate seems to add to the problem. Last year alone, the city municipal corporation recorded 330 deaths due to pneumonia and other acute respiratory disorders.
"We are in the high altitude, 3000 feet above sea level. Temperature is lower and most respiratory infection in Bangalore 65 per cent of them come from July to October," said H Parmesh, Director, Lakeside Hospital.
Also, with 91 private nursing homes roped in to treat the H1N1 patients, there could also be better recording of statistics compared to other cities. But the Health Department says people too are to blame for the relatively high death figures.
"They are thinking it is a seasonal flu, that is why they are neglecting. Unfortunately most of the cases go in the 11th hour, take Tamiflu and one or two days after they go to the ventilator level and they are collapsing. Also in Bangalore, floating population, foreigners, insiders going abroad and coming," said Perumal, Principal Health Secretary, Karnataka.