H1N1 scare in Bengaluru tech hub after SAP India hits panic button

BENGALURU: The tech hub of Bengaluru was in the grip of an H1N1 Influenza infection scare on Thursday, after German software major SAP pressed the panic button following two of its employees in the city contracting the virus.
SAP shut its offices in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Gurgaon and asked all employees to work from home till further notice. It also undertook fumigation and sanitisation of the offices.
The news spread after RMZ, which operates the business park in which SAP is located in Bengaluru, issued an advisory to all tenants in the park on measures they could take, specifically mentioning the SAP actions. The park’s other tenants include Accenture, Honeywell, Danske IT, Shell Technologies, Morgan Stanley, Capgemini, ANZ and others.
Sources said some of these companies told employees to work from home for the next three days, but considering the next three days are holidays for most employees (Maha Shivratri, followed by the weekend), the order will have little impact.
Jayaram S Govindaiah, head of group real estate and corporate services at Danske IT, said, "We requested our employees not to visit the food court, which is where the SAP tower is located. We quickly brought in sanitisers all over the floor for employees to use. We also had a stock of N95 masks and asked employees to make use of it. We started sanitising the handles and doors of all conference rooms and cafeteria. We asked our Danish visitors to work from their hotel and not to come to office."
RMZ said it is sanitising contact areas like lift surfaces, nobs, and taps in the common area, placing hand sanitisers, and sterilising the food court.
A top official of the Karnataka health department indicated that the response was an over-reaction. “We think the coronavirus fear is behind this H1N1 scare. It’s good to take precautions to avoid infection but there is no need to panic,” he said.
Data on H1N1 accessed by TOI shows that between January 1 and February 20, the state saw 175 cases of H1N1, significantly lower than the 482 cases seen in the same period last year. No deaths have been reported this year.
The seasonal H1N1 is a self-limiting, air-borne viral infection that spreads from person to person through large droplets generated by acts of coughing and sneezing and indirect contact by touching contaminated objects or surfaces.
Dr Prakash Kumar, joint director, communicable diseases, Health and Family Welfare department, said there is no spike in the number of H1N1 cases and there is no need to panic. “H1N1 is regularly seen and there is herd immunity to it. There is no need to quarantine, but the affected person can take rest at home till s/he recovers. Over 80% of H1N1 cases are self-limiting. Complications are seen in 1% of the cases only. We are not aware of the measures taken by tech companies. But there is no need to panic,” he said.
SAP said the two employees were based in its Bengaluru office, and they are trying to trace how the two contracted the disease. "The health of our employees and their families is of utmost priority, as a precautionary measure, all the SAP India offices across Bengaluru, Gurgaon and Mumbai have been closed for extensive sanitisation," the company said in a statement. Sources said actions were taken in the Gurgaon and Mumbai offices because the affected employees may have travelled to those locations.
In an internal note to employees, SAP suggested they go for medical consultations in case of any symptoms of cold, cough with fever.
In a statement, RMZ said: "While an isolated incident has been reported, it has since been contained at a tenant space. Action has been taken as a precautionary measure.”