By Beatrice Obwocha, Peter Mutai and Lucianne Limo

Eleven more students have tested positive for H1N1 virus commonly known as swine flu.

Samples taken to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) for analysis showed that students from Sacred Heart Boys High School in Rongai had the virus.

Other 128 students in three more secondary schools in Nakuru, Koibatek and Kericho districts were isolated after showing symptoms of the flu.

Nakuru District Medical Officer of Health Kariuki Gichuki said they put the Sacred Heart students under treatment after receiving results of tests yesterday morning.

"We had quarantined 31 boys but took samples from 11. We have put all the 31 them on treatment with Tamiflu since they were all staying in one dormitory,’ he said.

Dr Gichuki said medical staff from the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital treated the students at the school.

He said: "None of them is in serious condition that is why they are treated at the school. They will be allowed to join the others once they recover completely."

At Kirobon High School, Nakuru, 20 students were quarantined.

Gichuki said they took samples from seven students from Kirobon and were waiting for results from Kemri. In Kirobon, the students were quarantined on Saturday.

He said only the two schools had reported cases of H1N1 virus in Nakuru.

In Kericho, 40 girls from Moi Tea Girls were quarantined. According to a teacher who did not want to be named, the students were sent home last week for school fees. Officers from the Ministry of Public Health sent samples for analysis at Kemri.

In Koibatek, District Education Officer Andrew Mibei confirmed 68 students from Eldama Ravine Girls High School had been isolated.

He said the students developed chest pains, fever, running nose and joint pains yesterday causing medical officers to visit the school.

Meanwhile, the Kenya High School management has assured parents that no new case of HINI virus has been detected in the school.

The school’s principal Rosemary Saina said doctors had assured them no student could be carrying the virus.

"The situation is very encouraging and all the affected students have improved and doctors have assured us that there are no new cases," said Ms Saina on telephone yesterday.

The school in Kileleshwa estate, Nairobi, was thrown into panic last Thursday when 25 students were found to have swine flu.

Eleven more students were later isolated after they showed symptoms of the virus.

And yesterday parents and visitors were not allowed to go beyond the school’s the gate, for health reasons.

Instead the school has set up a desk where parents can get information regarding their children.

Journalists were, however, barred from speaking to parents or even venturing into the school compound.