Nairobi — Confirmed cases of swine flu attacks in Kenya had reached 70 by Tuesday.

Public Health minister Beth Mugo said Nairobi, the capital, had recorded 40 cases of H1N1 virus followed by Kisumu (18), Rift Valley (10), Garissa (2) and Nyeri (1).

"Despite an increase in the number of cases, I would like to appeal to Kenyans not to panic since my ministry has strengthened surveillance at airports and even at the grassroots following the latest upsurge of new cases," the minister said.

Mrs Mugo described the disease, also known as swine flu, as a mild flu, but urged the public to seek prompt treatment if they had fever and general body weakness.

Health teams

Speaking during a press conference held in her Afya House office in Nairobi, Mrs Mugo said health teams were now working with local communities in combating the outbreak.

She said apart from supplying the district health teams with drugs and personal protective gear, the ministry was carrying out health education messages through local FM stations on the disease.

The ministry's preventive diseases head, Dr Willis Akhwale said the confirmed cases were detected between June 29 and Tuesday.

"We are appealing to those who might be infected to ensure they are self-isolated... In most cases, the disease disappears after seven days of treatment," Dr Akhwale said.

Meanwhile, anxiety has gripped residents of Keiyo and the neighbouring districts after more suspected cases of swine flu were reported in the region. Those exhibiting swine flu-related symptoms visited dispensaries in the area for tests.

But Keiyo District Medical Officer of Health Dickens Onyango said health personnel had dealt with confirmed cases in the area.

The MoH, who was taking round senior medical officials from Nairobi, said they were liaising with health personnel from the neighbouring districts to contain the spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, the Standard One pupil diagnosed with the H1N1 virus in Nyeri has now been moved by her family for fear of being stigmatised.

The media coverage of the girl's case, her parents said, had deeply stigmatised the family.

The girl's father, who declined to give his name, denied that the entire family had been quarantined, saying the girl was attending holiday tuition at a local primary school, although this could not be confirmed.

The family is eagerly awaiting another set of test results from Nairobi on Wednesday.

First case

The family's reaction comes after the girl was diagnosed with swine flu, becoming the first case from Nyeri.

Medical officials from the Nyeri Provincial General Hospital where the girl had been taken for check-ups on July 31 were still on high alert as they await the second set of results that had been sent to Kemri.

A team of doctors led by Nyeri Medical Officer of Health, Dr Peter Munyua, rushed to the girl's home at Thunguma Village and took samples from her family and other immediate contacts, which were sent to the Government Chemist for analysis.

The results, which were expected to be ready by Tuesday, had not arrived in Nyeri by the time of going to press.

An outbreak of the disease had been reported in the region, with 250 pupils of Kapirsis Primary School reported to have developed symptoms on July 31.