The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
The number of infants suffering from suspected viral pneumonia in the county has risen to 124 after seven new cases were reported yesterday.
20 babies have in the last two weeks died from the outbreak, which has mainly affected areas around Nakuru town and its environs.
Over 30 minors are admitted at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital, with the pneumonia symptoms.
County Health Executive Mungai Kabii said other than the 20 deaths, no new cases had been reported.
He said the county’s medical team was in high alert to deal with the outbreak.
“We have seven new cases and our staffs around the county are keenly working round the clock to prevent further outbreak,” he said.
Dr Kabii said the medical team was yet to establish the main cause of the outbreak adding that the team was waiting for results from the Kenya Medical Research Institute.
“We currently don’t know the virus that is causing these deaths so that we can deal with it. We are awaiting results from Kemri,” he said.
Seek Treatment
He was optimistic that the virus will be contained adding that its incubation period was around two days.
The doctor called on parents whose minors were suffering from high fever and cough to seek medical attention with immediate effect.
“From the initial investigations, this is a disease that can be easily contained, but we are waiting for the results from Kemri so that we can move ahead with certainty,” he said.
Pneumonia is an infection that causes inflammation in the lungs and it’s caused by either bacteria, fungi or viruses.
Viral pneumonia is a complication of the viruses that cause colds and the flu and invades the lungs and causes them to swell blocking the flow of oxygen.
Children and people over 65 are considered a high risk because their bodies are more susceptible to infection.
Other high-risk groups include pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.
Coughing, sneezing or touching a surface that has been contaminated by another infected person is the most common way to catch the virus that causes the viral pneumonia.
join