Child dies in Kenya swine flu outbreak

Samples from patients with flu come back positive for HIN1 prototype 9 virus

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – Kenya’s Ministry of Health confirmed Wednesday that a child has died and more than 60 others have been infected from a swine flu outbreak in the town of Nanyuki.

Nanyuki County Health Chief Officer Dr. Donald Mogoim told Kenya's Star newspaper that the young child died at Nanyuki Cottage Hospital.

“We decided to take samples [from patients suffering from the flu at Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital] to the national public health laboratories for tests, and on Tuesday, two of the samples were positive for the HIN1 prototype 9 virus."

Health experts have warned that the disease, which is airborne, might spread if not contained, especially as Kenya is currently experiencing March-April rains.

The Ministry of Health has launched an awareness campaign to prevent the spread of the disease.

Samples from more patients have been taken at Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Kaynak: