The government has registered an outbreak of Influenza A after several students presented symptoms similar to Covid-19 in one of the schools in Wakiso district.
This comes after an alert that was received by the education ministry from the school in question.
State minister for primary education, Joyce Moriku Kaducu made this revelation in a joint statement organized by the Education and Health ministry at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala this Thursday.
According to the World Health Organization, seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses that circulate in all parts of the world.
This kind of influenza that is sparked by a change in weather conditions, doesn’t usually require medical attention, as most people recover from it within a week without requiring any medical attention.
Other symptoms include fever, cough, headache, joint pain, flu, among others.
“Younger learners appear to have a higher attack rate as compared to older learners and in most cases, the illness was between mild and moderate with no signs of severe respiratory illness,” Kaducu said.
Remedies:
Ismail Mulindwa, the director of basic education urged schools to always adhere to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) such as the use of face masks as well as observing hand hygiene both in classes and dormitories for boarding schools.
In addition, he advised schools to conduct lessons in shifts and to utilize other spaces such as the main hall, dining, laboratories on top of classrooms to avoid crowding at any given time.
Schools have also been urged to make good use of their sick bays instead of sending children back home, for those in the boarding section while day scholars get treated at home.
Dr Jesca Nsungwa, the commissioner in charge of reproductive and child health at the health ministry encouraged schools to ensure that children drink water on a regular basis.
She also advised schools to do away with crowds by separating the time for arrival at school and taking students for meals and sports in sequences.
Lt Col Dr Henry Kyobe, the COVID-19 incident commander reassured the public that the disease is currently at the mild and moderate stage and none of the samples tested in schools was positive for Covid-19.