Kwaku Agyemang Manu – Minister of Health
The Ministry of Health has identified the cause of death of the four Kumasi Academy (KUMACA) students as acute respiration infection, Influenza Type A, H1N1 – commonly called swine flu.
This follows latest results of laboratory investigations of respiratory samples of the affected students at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research – after earlier findings proved negative for bacterial infection or viral haemmorrhagic fever.
So far, about 11 deaths have been recorded in the school within the last 10 months.
The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, announcing this at a press conference in Accra yesterday, said 12 out of the 19 respiratory fluids from the affected students sent to Noguchi for a review test, came out positive for Influenza Type A, H1N1.
“Based on the laboratory findings of the respiratory samples from Noguchi, we wish to indicate an outbreak of an acute respiratory infection with severe presentation and some resulting in deaths,” he told journalists at the health ministry’s conference room.
He said observations at the school showed that the outbreak might have occurred as a result of overcrowding at the Sadla House rooms, which has poor ventilation.
The outbreak, which began on 30th November 2017, has so far affected a total of 44 students, who are currently on admission at the various health facilities – four of who had died.
The sector minister said postmortem examination had been conducted on one of the students who arrived at the hospital dead, with initial results suggesting internal bleeding of the lungs and the gastro-intestinal tract.
“Observation of the affected students showed that about 27 of those on admission showed signs of fever, headache, joint and bodily pains, cough, abnormal chest signs on auscultation,” he added.
Way Forward
Mr. Agyeman-Manu said the ministry and the respective health agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have put in the necessary measure to ensure containment of the acute respiratory infection.
“We have strengthened surveillance on the condition and provided more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), taken steps to access availability of vaccination as part of response action and procured antiviral agents for case management,” he announced.
He further indicated that steps had been taken to enhance school health at KUMACA, as well as intensify public education in the area.
Assurance
Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu assured the public that the situation was under control, and called on parents to remain calm as the ministry and the Ghana Health Service are dealing with the situation.
He said the students on admission were responding to treatment, adding that actions, including strengthening case management, strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures, had been put in place to ensure that no more casualties are recorded.
He recommended that the students remain on campus to enable final conclusions on response actions.
Influenza Type A H1N1
Swine flu is transmitted through cough or sneeze which sprays tiny drops of the virus into the air and can affect another person if they come into contact with the drops.
Like the regular flu, swine flu can lead to more serious problems, including pneumonia, a lung infection, and other breathing problems, if not treated urgently.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri