21 August 2009
Jack Shaka, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
Six students have been infected with the swine flu in the Nyanza Province sections of Gusii in Kenya. A team of experts have been dispatched to the area to do thorough screening. The infected are now receiving treatment at the referral hospital in Nairobi-Kenyatta National Hospital.
classroom in Kenya
AfricaNews reporter said the infected students had just come back from Mombasa city after attending the Kenya Schools and Colleges National Music Festival. Thomas Nyang’au the District Public Health Officer has suspended all tuition in nearby schools and church gatherings for at least 10 days.

The Public Health Minister told parliament earlier that six out of nine samples taken from a school in Keiyo District had turned out positive. 250 students from Kapirsis Primary School in the area were reported to have developed the flu symptoms.

So far tension continues to rise among the over 1,000 students who participated in the festival and most have gone back home or to school for holiday tuition, our reporter said. “People should not panic because the disease has symptoms like those of the common flu. We appeal to those who might develop such symptoms to visit the nearest health centre for examination,” Abwaku said.

“We are urging local people to report any person who may present symptoms of swine flu so that necessary steps are taken,” said the District Commissioner for Borabu, Hassan Noor.