BEIJING, June 30 -- A suspected case of Influenza A (H1N1) in Nairobi has been ruled out by tests at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) laboratories, released by the press conference of Kenyan ministry of public health and sanitation, held on Saturday noon.

    Soundbite: Beth Mugo, minister of public health and sanitation of Kenya, said during a press conference,"The samples that the suspected case has been confirmed to be negative for Influenza A virus. I wish to confirm to the country that there still is no confirmed influenza A (H1N1) case in Kenya."

    Kenyan health authorities were on the alert on Friday when a patient was found with symptoms that have previously been associated with the A/H1N1 virus.

    According to the minister, the patient suspected was a 20-year old lady who is a student at a university in London.

    The student had traveled back to Kenya on June 20 and was said to be in contact with a friend who later tested positive for the flu in London.

    Public Health and Sanitation minister Beth Mugo assured the public that any case of the flu would be dealt with. She noted that the government was prepared and had set aside isolation rooms in most hospitals in the country to deal with any cases that may arise.

    News about the patient had spread across Nairobi via SMS overnight on Friday causing panic among residents especially shoppers at the popular Sarit center.

    Xinhua News Agency correspondent Zhou Yu reporting from Nairobi.

    (Source: XHTV)

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