'H1N1 virus this year will not be as deadly as 2009'

T S Cheluvaraju, nodal officer for Swine Flu in the state says, "The virus will still be circulating in the air till everybody gets immune to it."

Travel and trade are the main culprits to add to the city's woes but Cheluvaraju adds, "A few cases will be there for some years but nothing that will cause the same havoc as last year."

Citizens' major exposure to the H1N1 virus is the main factor that will keep them safe from further infections.

Also, the virus's inability to pose serious harm in the future is the other reason cited by doctors. "Antigens of the virus will change and hence not pose a problem," says Dr George D'Souza, Medical Superintendent, St John's Medical College Hospital.

Another reason that D'Souza cites is that some people already had "mild infections of the flu," and hence will be able to respond more.

Similarly, doctors and patients are now comfortable with the disease. While earlier, St John's used to get 200 to 300 patients daily with suspected H1N1 flu like symptoms, now the numbers have dropped to the bare minimum.
D'Souza says, "We used to send 100 to 50 people everyday for testing due to the high prevalence of the disease then."

The weather is another factor that is playing an important role towards the virus' inability to lead to fatalities.

Dr R Shashikanth, Medical Officer, St Martha's Hospital confirms that swine flu cases are very few these days.
He says, "The weather is getting warmer so it's better now."

The Five reasons

1. The citizen's have already been exposed to the H1N1 virus 2. Antigens of the virus will change 3. Some people already have symptoms of mild flu and they will be better able to fight the virus 4. The weather is taking a warm turn 5. Doctors and patients are now comfortable with the disease

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