Helpless mothers cry for answers as deadly influenza strikes hard

KENYA: Mothers in Nakuru want answers to protect their children as an influenza outbreak ravages the county. So far, 39 children have succumbed to influenza type A and B with 300 more reported cases.

Three more children suspected to have contracted influenza A and B virus died while undergoing treatment at Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital on Thursday.

Though the authorities are reluctant to share the current state of the disease, a visit by The Standard on Saturday to Eastleigh estate in Elburgon town, an area that reported two deaths, revealed a desperate people living under deplorable conditions.

Cecilia Wangare, a 20-year-old mother who lost her only son to the deadly disease, is sad and broken.

Ms Wangare said her 10-month-old baby James fell ill and was rushed to Elburgon Hospital, where he was put on oxygen. Unfortunately he died while undergoing treatment.

“My baby was not breastfeeding and on being taken to hospital, he was put on oxygen but unfortunately a few hours after admission he died,” said a shaken Wangare. Doctors at the facility did not disclose to her the nature of the disease that claimed her baby.

HYGIENE FIRST

To her, it was pneumonia, a common disease among babies in the area because of cold weather.

Anne Wangui, her immediate neighbour is also worried. Her two year-old-baby boy who was in contact with the deceased has fallen ill. Wangui said she took the boy to Elburgon Hospital after she started experiencing symptoms that included vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and lack of appetite.

“I want my baby to get well but unfortunately he is not feeding. We hear there is a vaccine that can stop an attack. How come nobody has vaccinated our kids?” said Wangui.

Other symptoms that signal an influenza attack are headache, sleepy, feeling dizzy, sore throat, coughing, breathing difficulties and chest pain.

Another mother Esther Wairimu, is also scared following the influenza outbreak.

Wairimu said her two-year old boy had developed influenza A and B case definition but she rushed her to hospital and is now recuperating.

“My boy has been having fever and I rushed him to hospital when I was told it could be influenza, a disease I believe he contracted. Pneumonia is a common disease here but the ministry should conduct more investigations because more children are sick and present influenza symptoms. We are in the dark, we need answers,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Government plans to vaccinate at least 350,000 children aged below five years against influenza A and B virus in Nakuru following the recent outbreak in the past three weeks. The Health ministry dispatched a team of disease-control experts to Nakuru last Thursday after the Influenza A and B virus outbreak was reported.

Philip Muthoka, deputy director of Medical Services in charge of the influenza surveillance team, said he had written a proposal to the Ministry of Health to help in funding the programme.

Dr Muthoka said the ministry should help in mobilising resources that will see the underage immunised against the virus.

“Vaccination is expensive but it is the only measure the Government can out in place to ensure the virus does not kill our future generation,” he said.

Muthoka said vaccination would boost the immune systems of infants who are more vulnerable to the disease. Nakuru County Health executive Dr Mungai Kabii said termi-flu drugs are being administered to children who present to hospitals with influenza like symptoms.

To curb infection and spread of the disease, he said a team of health workers have been dispatched in sub counties to sensitise locals on importance of maintaining high hygiene standards.

The executive said the exercise has been rolled out in Nakuru North, Nakuru East and Nakuru West where the cases were first reported in the county and will be taken to other sub counties.

There are three types of influenza viruses, types A, B and C with the latter being the mildest.