By Kamundia Muriithi
Students of Moi Mbiruri High School have resumed school after a one-week health break following an outbreak of Hepatitis A in mid-July.
At least 35 students fell ill with symptoms of the viral disease and were admitted in Tenri Hospitals where most of them tested positive for Hepatitis A and were treated and discharged.
Hepatitis A is caused by a virus from water or food contamination and can cause mild to severe illness.
The students experienced abdominal pain, vomiting, fatigue, weakness and yellowing of eyes, which are common symptoms of Hepatitis A.
Students told the media that their illness started after taking lunch.
“We alerted the teacher on duty and the school administration organized for our travel to hospitals where we were admitted,” said one student.
To contain the outbreak, Embu County Director of Education James Kairu directed students to proceed on the health break pave way for thorough investigations, screening and treatment for the disease.
He said afterwards students were required to report back to school with a medical report.
All teaching and non-teaching staff also underwent examination.
Kairu said a technical team from the department of health took samples to government chemist find out the cause of the infections.
The team also did a thorough clean-up of the school facilities while the learners were at home.
Embu County Health CEC Dr.Joan Mwende said they are suspected the infection was through water or food.
“However we have taken water and food samples to government chemist and Kenya Medical Research Institute and we are waiting for the results to have concrete conclusion,” she said.
She assured the public that the situation had been contained there no cause of alarm adding that the department of health had supplied the school with water treatment chemicals, urging the public to observe high standards of cleanliness.
