THE Noguchi Memorial Research Institute has confirmed that 355 students have been infected with the Varian Virus disease — H3N2 Flu disease — in some of the senior high schools (SHSs) in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal of the Eastern Region.
According to the research institute, 300 students from Krobo Girls, 30 from Akuse Methodist SHS and 25 students from Legacy Girls were infected but said it was yet to import vaccines for the disease.
The outbreak was recorded after students from the said schools participated in a debate competition.
However, the authorities of the schools reportedly thought it was a normal flu and malaria hence attempted to treat the infected students themselves. But the situation worsened as the disease was spreading rapidly amongst the students.
The Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Albert Antobreh-Boateng, quickly dispatched a medical team to the affected schools for investigation.
Dr. Antobreh-Boateng said on radio that the situation was currently under control and expressed optimism that all the infected students would be able to resume lessons the following week.
“At Krobo Girls, those who were infected were still going to classes so they were re-infecting themselves. So we had to stop those who were sick from going to classes. We have put all of them in one class and they are being cared for by a team. Another team is also caring for those who keep reporting the same symptoms,” he disclosed.
He explained that “we either put those who are very ill on chemifloc or we give them ordinary symptomatic treatment. We have had positive cases when the test was done for A3. It is a seasonal flu and it’s not dangerous. The other two schools are Akuse Methodist Technical School and Legacy Girls School.”
The infected students are currently on antibiotics and have been quarantined at the various campuses as others have been taken home by their parents.
H3N2 is Influenza viruses that normally circulate in pigs. It is called “variant” viruses when they are found in humans.
Symptoms of the disease include runny nose, sore throat, headache, body aches and pains, fever, chills, fatigue, diarrhoea, and vomiting.
From Daniel Bampoe, Odumase