This archive report was first published on 22 July 2019.
On July 22, 2019, the Ministry of Health declared Kenya free of the avian and swine flu, following a scare of an outbreak over the weekend.
According to a statement released by the ministry, there were four reported cases of severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) caused by the influenza virus (type A/H3N2) in Nairobi County. One patient regrettably succumbed to the illness on July 19.
The cases were reported at MP Shah Hospital, where the other three patients are responding positively to treatment, with one being treated as an outpatient.
The ministry encouraged the public to seek medical attention in case of cold-like symptoms with an abrupt or sudden onset of a sore throat, fever, headache, muscle-aches and chest discomfort or congestion and a cough.
People with the above symptoms were advised to limit contact with others to keep from spreading disease, cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and dispose of it in a dustbin, as well as wash their hands often with soap and water.
“Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu, drink plenty of warm fluids and keep warm,” said the statement.
Kenya has experienced influenza outbreaks in the past, including an outbreak in Nanyuki in March 2018, where a child died and more than 60 people were infected with the H1N1 prototype 9 influenza virus.
