On Saturday, health department officials in Bengaluru cautioned the public about the recent spike in the number of H1N1, or swine flu, cases. As of Sunday, 46 recent cases of swine flu were confirmed in the city.

Speaking to TNM, Dr Sreenivasa, Bengaluru health officer said, “We are asking the public to take precautionary measures. They should take maintain basic hygiene, washing hands, cover their face when coughing and sneezing, things like this. As of now we are monitoring the situation, surveillance is being undertaken by department officials to ensure that we keep track of all possible cases which may show up.”

Swine flu, or H1N1, is caused by a strain of the influenza A virus and was noted to have been initially transmitted to humans from pigs. Symptoms of swine flu are cough, fever, sore throat, headache, nausea, and vomiting. People may also present with chills and severe myalgia (fatigue).  

In 2009, the flu spread around the world so rapidly that several began referring to it as a pandemic. Since then, a number of cases are reported around the world, particularly during the rainy seasons.

A throat swab and culture of often used to test for swine flu.

Earlier, a spike in H1N1 was seen in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district with a total of 16 cases being reported as of September 27. Health department officials in the state suspect that the flu could be spreading from the district to Bengaluru.

Over 3,000 houses have reportedly been surveyed as part of the department’s efforts to detect swine flu.

Officials have also identified Dommasandra, Singasandra, Sahakara Nagar, Konanakunte, Begapur, MS Palya, Amruthahalli, Jalahalli, Avalahalli, KR Puram, B Narayanapura, Doddakannahalli, Garudacharpalya, Siddapura, Varthur, Kodi, Ramamurthy Nagar, and Marathahalli as areas susceptible to the flu.