Swine flu fear in Bangalore

Bangalore, Aug 22 (ANI): Fear of H1N1 influenza has gripped Bangalore after the city experienced one more death case taking the toll to 11 in Karnataka.

Residents have turned into a perturbed lot, dreading the disease. They expressed doubts over the effectiveness of masks as a preventive measure.

"As far as I know, I don't know how much these masks will help to prevent H1N1 because my understanding is that if someone has H1N1, anybody within three to four feet, have chances of being infected. So I don't think these masks will prevent infection," said Kritika Desai, a resident.

A 26-year-old woman died of swine flu in Bangalore, which accounts for the second highest fatalities in the country after Maharashtra.

A 47-year old man died due to swine flu on Friday in Chennai.

However, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said that the State Government was doing its best to control the spread of swine flu and also endeavouring to spread mass awareness about the pandemic.

Reacting to the statement of Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad that the State Governments were not doing enough to control the flu, he said he would personally speak to him and discuss the issue with him.

"This type of disease is not only present in Karnataka, but it is present throughout the country and in so many other states also. So, we should not blame the Central Government or the Central Minister should not blame the State Governments. We must sit together and discuss to control the disease," said Yediyurappa.

India recorded its first H1N1 case in Hyderabad in May and since then the virus has spread across the country with dozens of cases from Pune. (ANI)