Nine Bushenyi students test positive for swine flu
Sep 28, 2009
NINE seminarians of Kitabi Seminary in Bushenyi district have tested positive to swine flu, the health ministry said yesterday.This brings the number of swine flu cases in Uganda to 33 since the first one was reported in July, noted Dr. Paul Kagwa, the as
By Francis Kagolo
NINE seminarians of Kitabi Seminary in Bushenyi district have tested positive to swine flu, the health ministry said yesterday.This brings the number of swine flu cases in Uganda to 33 since the first one was reported in July, noted Dr. Paul Kagwa, the assistant commissioner for health education.
Kagwa said another 300 people were undergoing treatment for symptoms related to swine flu in Bushenyi.
They caught the symptoms from the nine seminarians, but have not been confirmed positive, Kagwa explained.
Earlier, 263 students of the seminary exhibited symptoms of the disease, but 65 have been cleared after testing negative.
However, Kagwa noted that the number of the positive cases may increase as the ministry awaits results from samples taken from 80 other people suspected to have the flu in Bushenyi.
Noting that we have not lost any person to the disease, Kagwa applauded the development agencies that have partnered with the health ministry to handle the epidemic.
In Bushenyi only, the cases have cost more than sh2b, Kagwa estimated.
He made the remarks at a press conference with officials from the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), one of the partners, in Kampala.
Kagwa allayed fears that swine flu might have spread to other schools in western Uganda, saying a team of experts was surveying the region.
Dr. Monica Musenero, the AFENET senior programme officer, explained that swine flu presents symptoms similar to those of regular flu.
They include fever, cough, sore throat, aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
However, she said some people had reported diarrhoea and vomiting.
Luswa Lukwago, the senior epidemiologist in the health ministry said there was no vaccine for the flu.
NINE seminarians of Kitabi Seminary in Bushenyi district have tested positive to swine flu, the health ministry said yesterday.This brings the number of swine flu cases in Uganda to 33 since the first one was reported in July, noted Dr. Paul Kagwa, the assistant commissioner for health education.
Kagwa said another 300 people were undergoing treatment for symptoms related to swine flu in Bushenyi.
They caught the symptoms from the nine seminarians, but have not been confirmed positive, Kagwa explained.
Earlier, 263 students of the seminary exhibited symptoms of the disease, but 65 have been cleared after testing negative.
However, Kagwa noted that the number of the positive cases may increase as the ministry awaits results from samples taken from 80 other people suspected to have the flu in Bushenyi.
Noting that we have not lost any person to the disease, Kagwa applauded the development agencies that have partnered with the health ministry to handle the epidemic.
In Bushenyi only, the cases have cost more than sh2b, Kagwa estimated.
He made the remarks at a press conference with officials from the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), one of the partners, in Kampala.
Kagwa allayed fears that swine flu might have spread to other schools in western Uganda, saying a team of experts was surveying the region.
Dr. Monica Musenero, the AFENET senior programme officer, explained that swine flu presents symptoms similar to those of regular flu.
They include fever, cough, sore throat, aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
However, she said some people had reported diarrhoea and vomiting.
Luswa Lukwago, the senior epidemiologist in the health ministry said there was no vaccine for the flu.