Panic has engulfed the Ministry of Health, after it was reported that Kenya could be out of supplies, leaving many more unprocessed samples stored in testing labs – By Gerald Gekara
The shortage experienced at the National Influenza Lab and the Kenyatta National Hospital has further spread fears that the number of those infected by the virus could be higher.
The Ministry of Health CAS Rashid Aman, says the ministry will have to go slow on the mass testing exercises, and take longer to process the collected samples.
“We are running low on materials and we will have to scale down on the number of tests that we are doing so that we don’t completely stop testing as we wait for the consignment that we have ordered,” he said.
However, Dr. Rashid assured Kenyans that the samples would be stored safely and the ministry will have to go to test the individuals again.
“All the samples are stored in the viral transport medium, frozen to keep it viable so that we do not have to go back to the individuals for the samples again,” Dr Aman said.
Cumulatively, Kenya has tested a total of 82,946 samples, of which 2,093 persons have tested positive.
On Tuesday’s testing excercise, 72 tested positive for the virus, out of 2,892 samples.
Nairobi accounted for (39), Busia (13), Mombasa (8), Kajiado (4), Migori (3), Kiambu and Garissa (2 each) and Kisumu (1).
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