John Augustine Emojong
3 July 2009
Busia/Malaba — Fear has gripped the border areas of Malaba and Busia following the confirmation of the first H1N1 virus in Kenya four days ago. Residents at the two border points told Daily Monitor yesterday that they were resorting to putting on gloves and not shaking hands with people, especially those crossing from Kenya for fear of contracting the virus.
"Some people now wear white buveera if they want to shake hands with others for fear of contracting the swine flu virus," Mr John Baraza, a boda boda rider in Busia, told Daily Monitor.
The Principal Immigration Officer in Malaba, Mr Robert Kavuma, told Daily Monitor that there was no screening of foreigners entering Uganda for the Swine Flu virus and that it was only on the Kenyan side that those entering Kenya from Uganda were being screened.
"We have not got any instructions from the Ministry of Health to do any screening. But on the Kenyan side, it is being done," Mr. Kuvuma said.
Busia District Police Commander Nasur Oringa, concurred with other residents , saying that there was urgent need for Uganda to start screening foreigners entering the country as neighbouring Kenya was doing.
"I'm not aware whether it is being carried out but if it is not, then there is need to do it if Kenya is doing so,so as to establish some of the suspects who may be sneaking into the country," Mr Oringa said.
Since the first case of the flu was confirmed in Uganda yesterday, the Ministry of Health has said they will be increasing surveillance at the border points.
The Tororo Resident District Commissioner, Mr Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, said equipment for testing Swine Flu Virus was due to arrive in the district by today (Friday). He added that the screening of foreigners entering the country at Malaba would thereafter be immediately implemented.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
