Bengaluru: The number of H1N1 positive cases has increased nearly eight-fold so far this year compared to the figures for the whole of last year. According to statistics provided by Minister for Health and Family Welfare K R Ramesh Kumar while replying to Janata Dal (S) member N Cheluvarayaswamy, the number of H1N1 cases has increased from 110 in 2016 to 871 this year till March 8 alone. While there were no deaths in 2016, there have been seven deaths so far this year.What has caused concern is that a majority of the cases have been reported from Bengaluru. While the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) area accounts for 370 of these cases this year as against 18 in 2016, Bengaluru Urban district has seen 135 cases so far in 2017 as against five in 2016.

Mysuru district has 109 persons reporting positive for this virus followed by Udupi (52 cases), Shivamogga (47 cases), Mandya (26 cases) and Kolar (19 cases).