Kenya Reports First Confirmed Case Of Swine Flu

Kenya on Monday confirmed its first case of A(H1N1) influenza in a British national who traveled to the east African country on a student trip.

"This is the first case of confirmed swine flu diagnosed in Kenya and whose infection occurred in the United Kingdom," Public Health Minister Beth Mugo told reporters.

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The 20-year-old man was among a group of 34 students who arrived in Kenya last week for a field trip in the country's western town of Kisumu.

Mugo explained that the unnamed Briton developed a headache and joint pains two days after the group's arrival and was later informed by his girlfriend in Britain that she had tested positive for the virus.

"His condition is stable and does not require hospitalization," said Mugo, adding that the students have been quarantined in a hotel in Kisumu.

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"In the meantime, we have embarked on tracing any contacts the student has made while in Kenya," she said.

The disease has infected nearly 60,000 worldwide and killed 263, according to the World Health Organization.

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Africa has had relatively few cases, mainly in people who had been traveling from North America. Over the past month cases have been reported in Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa.

Kenya, one of the continent's major transport hubs, had been on high alert in recent weeks. Mugo said there was no cause for alarm and the ministry had stocked more than 50,000 Tamiflu doses.

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In Britain, a total of 4,323 swine flu cases have been diagnosed and according to the WHO figures, it has the the second steepest increase of swine flu after Chile.

Source-AFP
SRM