The Ministry of Education in Embu has given students of Moi Mbiruri High School a one week health break after suspected outbreak of Hepatitis A.
Speaking on Friday to media, James Kairu, the Embu County Director of Education said the health break would help the over 1, 000 students to seek medical examination for the disease.
“We have consulted and decided to give the students a one week health break to pave way for thorough investigations and the students to have medical test for Hepatitis A,” he said.
Kairu said that 35 students were admitted at the local Tenri hospital; 25 admitted at Tenri Ena hospital at Runyenjes while 10 were at Tenri Embu Children hospital in Embu town.
The CDE noted that the investigations were ongoing to confirm whether the disease is actually Hepatitis A.
Kairu further said technical team from department of health is carrying out thorough check up to find out the cause of the infections and will do thorough clean up once the learners are at home.
“With thorough clean up within the school, students who are required to come back to school with medical report will come back to a clean and health learning environment,” he added.
The Embu County executive committee member for Health, Dr. Joan Mwende said they were suspecting the infection was through water or food.
“However, we have taken water and food samples to government chemist and KEMRI and we are waiting for the results to have concrete conclusion,” she said.
Dr. Mwende has reassured members of public that the situation has been contained and there should be no cause of alarm, adding that the department of health has supplied the school with water treatment chemicals.
She has urged members of public to observe high standards of cleanliness through avoiding open defecation.
The students will break tomorrow in the morning and report back next week Friday having undergone Hepatitis A medical test which would include all teaching and non-teaching staff at Moi Mbiruri High School.
By Kimani Tirus
