HUYE - Twenty-nine suspected cases of the influenza A, H1N1 (swine flu) at the University Teaching Hospital (CHUB) in Butare, have been confirmed to be negative, officials say.

Ten suspected cases were reported at the referral hospital, last week but tests carried out  at a reference centre in Kigali, confirmed that the cases were negative.

Boniface Hakizimana, the infection control coordinator at the hospital in an interview with The New Times said that measures have been put in place to handle any suspected case that may arises.

"We have set up a special team that is charged with following up any suspected cases of the influenza. We have teams that do home visits where suspected cases are reported,” said the official.

The hospital has mandated screening of all suspected cases at different points of medical consultation in the hospital.

"Out patients with suspected signs of the influenza are screened, test samples are sent to the national reference laboratory where results are made available within 24 hours,” said Hakizimana.

As a control measure against the spread of the swine flu, the hospital management has set a side a special wing where such cases will be admitted.

"The wing is isolated and spacious, confirmed cases will be able to access treatment from this location,” he added.

The Ministry of Health last week reported that the swine flu toll had reached 95, of these 43 cases have been successfully treated.

The swine flu outbreak was first reported in Mexico in April. Rwanda registered the first such a case early last month.

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