Swine Flu outbreak: One child dead, eight admitted in Nakuru

Nakuru County has reported an outbreak of Swine Flu with the county health ministry recording more than 140 cases.

The H1N1 flu has spread rapidly over the past month. One child has died from this type of flu.

Doctor Daniel Wainaina, the chief public health officer in Nakuru county says that the first case was reported at the Elementaita ward health center on July 27.

"Last month on the 27th, we received a report that in the Elementaita area, Kitwangani clinic there are children who were coming with high fever and high body temperature," says Dr. Wainaina.

He also said that health officials were sent to investigate what was happening. After laboratory research, it was found that the children were suffering from H1N1 Swine flu.

Until today, the health department in this county has registered more than 140 cases of this fever, although they say the infection has been controlled for now.

"Until yesterday we have seen one hundred and forty patients and unfortunately one of them who is a child under one year passed away," explains Mr Wainaina.

Residents of Nakuru have now been asked to take precautions even though the county government has given assurances that the disease will not spread.

"At the moment we have eight children in our wards. Six in the Kitongonyi hospital and two in the main hospital. They continue to receive treatment and at any time they will be allowed to go home," says doctor Daniel.

This officer says the symptoms of this fever are high temperature, cold, phlegm, chest pain.