KEMRI Denies Claims of Influenza Outbreak in the Country

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The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has termed claims that there is influenza (flu) outbreak in the country as misleading.

According to KEMRI, their research proved that there is no flu breakout, and the public should ignore information doing circles in social media as they are aimed at causing undue panic to members of the public.

KEMRI did three-month research from September to November, on 36 samples during their usual surveillance.

“Out of this total of 36 samples, only four tested positive for flu which is an insignificant finding to warrant concerns of an influenza outbreak especially within the tropics,” KEMRI said.

KEMRI based on their results to explain that the four positive cases registered during the research indicated that only one person contracted influenza in one month and this does not add up to call it an outbreak.

“Past outbreaks have involved a higher percentage of cases being positive. In one incident, 150 samples tested positive from a sample of 250, and in another case, 14 out of 20 samples tested positive.”

On the other hand, a single reported case of the Ebola virus is usually declared a pandemic because of its severity and the rate of causing fatalities in case it is not treated immediately after contracting it.

KEMRI further advised the public to observe high standards of personal hygiene since influenza is widespread in a dirty environment.

People with underlying conditions and weakened immunity, the aged and children under the age of 5 are recommended to seek flu vaccination to evade severe conditions of the health when the flu hits.

Symptoms of flu include feeling feverish, muscle aches, headaches, tiredness, sore throat, and a runny nose.

The post KEMRI Denies Claims of Influenza Outbreak in the Country appeared first on LitKenya.

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