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By Ayoki Onyango
A significant number of deaths associated with swine flu are actually caused by pneumonia, reports the Kenya Medical Research Institute.
According the institute, the link is not surprising because pneumonia has been the major cause of mortality during past influenza or flu pandemics. During the 1918-1919 flu pandemic the principal cause of death was bacterial pneumonia after influenza.
Doctors say influenza condemns but pneumonia executes.
Deaths among children aged between six months to 12 years and elderly people aged above 60 from the disease surpasses those killed by HIV and Aids, TB, and malaria.
But most focus and resources are directed to malaria, TB and HIV and Aids. There is a global fund for the three diseases.
While the Kenya Expanded Programme for Immunisation (KEPI), caters for children there is no national programme for the elderly.
Experts say pneumonia can be indirectly prevented through vaccinations against seasonal flu, measles, mumps and rubella and meningitis. "Vaccination could halt and control deaths from pneumonia, especially among children and the elderly," says Dr Tatu Kamau, Director of the Division of Vaccinations and Immunisation at the Ministry of Public Health.
Cases of viral, fungal and bacterial pneumonia have increased since the World Health Organisation declared the swine flu pandemic early last year, she says. She says pneumococcal infection is the major cause of mortality during flu pandemic.
Prof Fred Were, a paediatrician, says the rate of pneumonia infections in children aged two to 10 and in adults aged over 60 is high.
The Chairman of Kenya Association of the Prevention of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Mohan Lumba says influenza creates a dangerous pathway for bacterial pneumonia infections. For maximum protection against swine flu risk groups should be vaccinated against flu and pneumonia,’’ says Dr Joseph Aluoch, a chest specialist.
Sanofi Pasteur has developed a vaccine, which offers protection against 23 strains of severe pneumococcal infections.
The vaccine Pneumo 23 is recommended for children above age two.
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