The minister for health, Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has given assurance that vaccines that can combat the strains are available and arrangement is being put inplace to see how best it can be import into the country for further activities.

The  Minister of Health gave the assurance when he briefed Parliament on measures being taken by government to fight the outbreak of the H1N1 influenza at the Kumasi Academy Senior High School.

He therefore said Government is in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to access vaccines as part of the response measure to deal with the outbreak of the H1N1 flu at the Kumasi Academy Senior High School (KUMACA).

He assured them of government’s commitment to provide adequate and efficient heath care in the country.

The Ministry of Health announced that samples from Kumasi Academy students sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute tested positive for the pandemic strain of influenza type A, H1N1 2009, also known as Swine Flu.

The samples were sent after it became clear there was a health crisis in the school following the death of four students in the last week.

An outbreak of an acute respiratory infection has also been confirmed in the school.

Mr Agyemang-Manu also described the developments as “good news” because the health officials now have a concrete lead to work on in their efforts to overcome the illness.

“Earlier, we were overwhelmed and it is like we were on an unknown island and we didn’t even know what to do. So now that this has been confirmed, at least we know the disease is curable. It can, therefore, be diagnosed and treated,” he stated.

Mr Agyemang-Manu also indicated that the ministries of Health and Education have recommended that students of the school should remain on campus to enable final conclusions on response actions.

He called for the strengthening of surveillance on the condition, as well as take steps to enhance school health at Kumasi Academy and nationwide.

He indicated there was the need to strengthen case management, including strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures.