There is no swine flu outbreak, MoH says
The swine flu outbreak reports in the country has caused controversy between the Ministry of Health and Nakuru county health authority.
Acting Director-General of Health Patrick Amoth noted that none of the samples sent to the influenza reference laboratory tested positive for the H1N1 influenza, a subtype known as swine flu.
“What we picked from the results was the seasonal cold and not the swine flu strain as earlier reported. The samples tested positive for H1N1, which has numerous categories of flu, I don’t know why they had to settle on swine flu,” he said.
Amoth criticised the county for making the news without consulting the Health Ministry, stating that a swine flu outbreak should not be treated lightly.
“Issuing a statement that explains the global picture is only done by the Ministry of Health after thorough tests have been done and the situation confirmed,” he said.
A team of experts and disease monitoring agents from the Ministry of Health had already been sent to Elementaita, Nakuru county in an effort to stop the spread of the swine flu, which had already claimed the life of one kid and hospitalised eight others.
About 140 instances of swine flu have been detected in the past month, according to Chief Officer of Public Health Services Daniel Wainaina.
Two more cases were reported on Sunday at Kiptangwany Health Centre.
Wainaina claimed that the stated increase is primarily among young children under the age of one who exhibit symptoms including high fever, a cough, and breathing difficulties.
“Samples collected for laboratory testing were taken to the KEMRI CDC and the national public health laboratories after reports of a localised Swine Flu outbreak. The findings confirmed that five of the nine initial samples had what we call the Swine Flu H1N1 variant of influenza virus,” he noted.
In addition to urging people to cover their faces when in public and assuring Nakuru residents of enhanced staff for daily surveillance, Wainaina linked the recent cold snap to the instances.
After interaction with pigs, swine flu can easily spread from people. The infection quickly results in mild to severe symptoms that can be fatal.
The H1N1 flu has symptoms that are comparable to seasonal influenza. Acute respiratory disease symptoms are prevalent in patients.
Children who exhibit temporary cessation of breathing (apnoea), abnormally quick breathing, difficult or painful breathing, bluish discoloration of the skin, or acute irritability may be suffering from a severe illness.
