The H1N1 virus has claimed two lives in April here and hospitals across the city have reported 10 other cases.
The first reported H1N1 death in the city this year was that of Laxman, 40, from Banikuppe in Ramanagaram district. Most patients live on the outskirts of the city and seek treatment in city hospitals. “Laxman had developed high fever and cold and when his condition worsened, his family brought him to Rajarajeshwari Medical College Hospital in Bangalore,” said Raju B C, a member of NGO Janaarogya Andolana.
The doctors then referred Laxman to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD), where he reportedly died two weeks ago.
The doctors tested Laxman’s friends and found one of his friends infected. “Since he was diagnosed early, his life could be saved. We are now getting his family tested too,” said Raju. The RGICD confirmed the virus was spreading. “This month, 34 patients were screened forthe virus and six tested positive,” said Dr Shashidhar Buggi, medical director.
“We screened 23 people in January and 19 in February, and not one tested positive. We had one positive case in March, but the number has risen in April,” Buggi said.