Karnataka, which has reported 113 positive cases of H1N1 or swine flu with eight fatality reports, is now investing 11 crore each for setting up five hi-tech laboratories for testing the deadly H1N1 virus. The state’s lone virology laboratory, located within the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, is now undertaking the tests.

With the rise in the number of the cases, the state government has categorically admitted that there are no labs in the northern districts of the state which is also reporting H1N1 cases. The big challenge is that most of these cases are reported late and this is causing considerable crisis. Hospitals are facing a shortage of ventilators and there is also serious lack of awareness about the disease. This is because it is an influenza and a contagious respiratory disease that causes symptoms similar to those of the seasonal influenza in people, said Karnataka heath and family welfare minister UT Khader.

There is no shortage of Oseltamivir brands in the state. All pharmacies are adequately stocked, said the health minister Khader.

In 2009, with the maiden outbreak of H1N1 in the state, only NIMHANS in Bengaluru was testing the samples. Kasturba Hospital attached to the Manipal Group at Manipal in Karnataka was the first private facility which was accorded as the second authorised centre for testing H1N1 virus. There were seven to eight labs which had applied to the state government to be verified for their capability and standard of the diagnostics. The Command Hospital in Bengaluru which caters to the medical needs of the Armed Forces and their families proved its expertise in carrying out the tests which were validated by NIMHANS and has been approved to test the samples.

“There is no government or private laboratory to test for the H1N1 virus or any other epidemic outbreak in North Karnataka. This is a cause for concern because H1N1 has already started taking several lives in the state. Therefore the action plan is to set up laboratories in the north Karnataka including the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, in the next financial year, said the health and family welfare minister Khader.

Despite the rising cases of H1N1, health minister Khader said there was no need to panic as health department was taking all measures to prevent the spread of the disease.