•Kemri is still carrying out surveillance and is yet to confirm any spike in flu transmission.
•Dr Evans Amukoye, the director of research and development at Kemri, said vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent flu.
Image: WILFRED NYANGARESI
Experts have advised that children under five years and adults above 65 should get vaccinated against flu.
These, alongside people with weakened immunity, suffer the most when they catch the influenza virus.
Dr Evans Amukoye, the director of research and development at Kemri, said vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent flu.
“The children suffer more severe flu. They are the most hospitalised but they hardly die, it’s the elderly who die,” Dr Amukoye told The Star.
In the last two weeks, there were reports of an upsurge of suspected flu in Kenya. However, Kemri is still carrying out surveillance and is yet to confirm any spike in transmission.
Usually in adults, the annual attack rate is 5-15 per cent, according to various studies.
Attack rate is the percentage of an at-risk population that contracts the disease during a specified time interval.
“Most us have partial immunity but children do not, that is why it is more severe in them,” Amukoye said.
There are four types of influenza viruses: A, B, C and D. Human influenza A and B viruses cause a surge in infections during almost every rainy season in Kenya.
While in most milder cases the flu resolves on its own without significant symptoms, severe cases of type A influenza can be life-threatening, especially for the elderly.
“Anyone above six months and above can get vaccinated against flu,” said Dr Amukoye, a paediatrician pulmonologist.
“The vaccine can offer prevention for a long time. But we give it once a year because the virus keep on changing,” he said.
He said flu is also prevented in the same way as Covid-19: handwashing, masking and isolation of people who have symptoms.
In some cases, influenza A symptoms can clear on their own with ample rest and fluid intake.
In other cases, medics may prescribe antiviral medication to fight the infection.
The current suspected spike is concerning due to the timing – it is just a week before Christmas and New Year holidays when Kenyans travel upcountry to meet with families.
Kenya is also experiencing an upsurge of Covid-19, and the highly transmissible Omicron variant has been confirmed.
“Influenza disease has a high social impact, particularly with respect to productivity losses due to high morbidity, impaired performance on return to work, and caregivers missing work while tending to sick children and elderly parents,” Amukoye said.
He said the immune boosters popular in Kenya, such as lemons and ginger, should especially be taken when people are healthy.
“There is a tendency for people to take fruits and ginger only when they get sick. At that time there is little benefit. The best is when one is healthy to boost your immunity and fight infection.”
The World Health Organization recommends annual flu vaccine for pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy, children aged between six months and five years, individuals aged more than 65 years, individuals with chronic medical conditions and healthcare workers.
Kenyatta National Hospital has been giving vaccines for free to health workers since December 7.
“It’s on first come, first served basis. 400 slots are available each day,” KNH said in an announcement.
The KNH vaccination drive started on December 7 and ends this weekend. In private hospitals, flu vaccines are available at between Sh1,000 and Sh2,000.
Edited by A.N