Arusha — There are reports that Swine-Flu infections have entered Karatu District of Arusha but medical authorities say they are not officially confirmed.

"I won't be surprised on that Karatu borders Mbulu where swine flu cases are rampant but so far there are no official reports regarding any possible outbreak in Karatu," said the Arusha Regional Medical Officer Dr. Salash Toure when asked about the situation.

"I have alerted the District Medical Officer for Karatu and together with other officials they will organize a public meeting on October 29 to put residents of Karatu on alert," added Dr. Toure.

According to the RMO there is regular interchange of people commuting between Karatu and Mbulu on daily basis and the possibility of an outbreak was high, but what is transpiring at the moment are just rumors, real cases have not been established yet, He said authorities are aware of the speculation and are conducting the necessary inspections.

The outbreaks of the flu in the Mbulu Township of Manyara region is under control. More than 200 patients have so far been discharged from treatment camps according to officials.

"And most of the suspect cases whose samples had been taken to Dar-es-Salaam for screening have proved negative," stated the Mbulu District Commissioner Francis Isaac.

Last week the screening exercises in the District came up with a total of 184 fresh infections at Mbulu, according to the Manyara Regional Commissioner, Mr Henry Shekifu. Together with previously recorded cases, the district sampled 300 suspected Swine flu cases, 130 of those being confirmed victims.

But until Tuesday afternoon there have been no new suspects and according to the Mbulu DC the victims in isolation camps are now being served with food prepared at the base cutting off all contact with outside world.

We discovered that spreading came from the camps themselves so we decided to prepare meals for victims instead of having relatives or friends taking food to the sick people and getting infected in the process," pointed out Mr Isaac.

Speaking at a press conference in Dar-Es-salaam last week, the permanent Secretary in the Ministry of health, Ms Blandina Nyoni stated that three regions had registered the flu cases since its outbreak a few months ago. These are Dar-Es-Salaam, Mara and Manyara.

"There have been 1038 suspected cases of swine flu in the country out of which my ministry took 985 samples," she explained adding that the samples produced 339 infected victims so far.

"We still have a total of 119 samples undergoing laboratory tests but since the cases were reported here some 530 suspected people were found to be free of the H1-N1 virus," she said.

Three weeks ago the newly recorded swine-Flu outbreak claimed the life of Ms Elizabeth Passi, a 40-year-old female teacher at Sanqbaray Primary School in Mbulu town who reportedly succumbed to the flu scourge after two days of treatment.

Speaking shortly after the incident the Mbulu District Hospital in-charge Dr. Anaely Pallangyo pointed out that the deceased who was taken to the hospital on the 8th of October in serious condition, suffered other ailments though the swine flu virus could have catalyzed her serious condition.

With an estimated population of 300,000 Mbulu is one of the 5 districts making up Manyara region borders, Arusha, Lake Eyasi, Babati, Hanang and Singida.