Second H1N1 flu panic grips Kenya
Kenya has detected the H1N1 flu symptoms in another patient reported to have arrived from India. The female patient is said to be a student studying in the Asian country. Panic stricken hospital staff rushed for protective masks as the patient was wheeled into the casualty section of the Kenyatta National Hospital.
Patients and subordinate staff were also provided with the masks. According to the head of Respiratory Disease Department of the hospital Dr Anderson Irimu, the patient was not seriously ill, but her samples had been taken to the Kenya Medical Research Institute for further tests. “The woman came to us following advice from the airport authority. This does not mean she has the H1NI virus. But we have put her in seclusion as we await test results,” Irimu said.
Meanwhile, the Rockefeller Foundation has announced a USD 100 million donation to the government for medicine. Making the announcement at the Fairmont Norfork Hotel in Nairobi, the President of the American organization, Dr Judith Rodin said that the money will be used to fight against the spread of the H1N1 in the country.
“As the Rockefeller Foundation is preparing to launch its newest $100 million health services initiative today in Kenya, news reports are coming in about the first case of Swine flu diagnosed within the country. As this unexpected pandemic continues to spread throughout Kenya, Africa and the rest of the world – the one thing we know for sure is that, despite response efforts, we need to be more prepared”, she added.
The Rockefeller Foundation has invested vastly in the development of successful disease surveillance networks in both Africa and Asia – creating systems that allow for the smooth and rapid transfer of information, assistance and treatments throughout regions.
Meanwhile, the Kenyan Minister of Public Health and Sanitation Mrs Beth Mugo, on Wednesday visited the British students quarantined in a Kisumu hotel, after one of them was diagnosed with the H1N1 Flu.
She said the government is on top of issues and called on Kenyans not to panic. She also said that screening on all people arriving in the country has been stepped up. Kenya is the first country in Eastern and Central Africa to be hit by the H1N1 Flu.
- AFRICA NEWS
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Jody
4 Jul 09 at 2:04 pm
Panic?
Hospital staff hurrying to get masks for themselves and for patients is not panic. It is prudence.
What would real panic look like? Hospital staff trampling patients in their effort to run away from the suspect swine flu case!
“Panic” is an insulting word. It implies that people cannot cope with their normal fear about a scary new situation, and that they do stupid or harmful things in order to avoid what they fear.
Labeling normal behavior as “panic” tends to lead officials to downplay, cover up, or delay announcing information they think will cause “panic.”
Give the hospital staff credit: They were rushing to protect themselves and their patients, so they could continue to do their jobs well!
By the way, Kenyan officials trying to reassure people, by emphasizing that they are stepping up containment measures, is a mistake. It fails to prepare people for the inevitable: pandemic flu WILL spread throughout East Africa. Large percentages of the population WILL get sick. Containment WILL fail. Help people get ready for this reality now, rather than over-reassuring them that the government is “on top” of the situation.
As WHO Director General Margaret Chan keeps emphasizing: the pandemic is unstoppable.
Ask your officials how to best cope with the pandemic, instead of letting them reassure you that you will not have to.