H1N1: K'taka blames IT professionals & pollution

Bangalore, Sep 12: Karnataka health authorities are blaming the IT professionals and pollution in cities like Bangalore for the continual surge in the number of Swine flu cases in Karnataka.

With 53 H1N1 deaths, Karnataka stands second to Maharashtra which has seen 72 deaths from the virus so far.

"We are trying our best to control it. But look at the pollution level in cities like Bangalore - it is compounding the problem of swine flu," Karnataka principal secretary (Health) I R Perumal was quoted as saying in a news agency report.

"Pollution and less precaution on the part of IT people have worsened the situation. IT people travel a lot and during the initial days they hardly took any precaution," said Perumal.

The IT majors like Infosys who did not bother to take measures to contain the H1N1 virus initially, are now conducting regular health checkups of employees, he added.

Apart from this, the pollution in the city is so high that it is aggravating the respiratory problems which make a person more vulnerable to the Swine flu virus.

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