OSLO, July 28 – A MYSA U16 player has tested positive for the Influenza ‘A’ variation popularly known as "swine flu".The player complained of a slight fever last Sunday and was immediately taken by the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) team leaders for a check-up at the small field hospital at the Norway Cup.
He has been moved from the school dormitory to the private residence of a kind and concerned Norwegian friend of MYSA where he remained in isolation there while waiting for the test results which were received late Monday.
The Chief Medical Doctor in charge of the Norway Cup Field hospital, Dr. Odd Arne Daljord, confirmed one case of influenza ‘A’ among the participants in Norway Cup. "We had one patient with fever on Sunday and this afternoon got a positive result confirmed" Dr. Daljord stated.
In his statement the doctor said that "The player has been kept away from the tournament. He has not eaten or slept in the school dormitories with his teammates or played any matches. His condition was so good today that he asked if he could start playing again. So he is in no danger whatsoever. But he was of course not allowed to play."
"In my judgement this case is not dramatic. So far this year we actually have fewer cases of illness and colds than previous years. But we will remain alert and have a plan on how to handle more cases if necessary."
The player arrived in Norway with his team 11 days ago and, as in previous years, stayed for the first week with host families in the town of Brumunddal (near Lillehammer). As the incubation period for flu is usually 4-5 days, it is more likely that he caught the flu in Norway rather than Kenya.
That unfortunately rules him out of playing in the Norway Cup this year.
MYSA sides have performed well and in two group matches outscored their Norwegian opponents by 7-0 goals and, along with the U13 MYSA boys team, already qualified for the final knockout rounds starting Wednesday If they keep winning, they will play two tough matches daily up to the final championship match on Saturday.
Late last night the MYSA U14 girls also won their second group match by 2-0 over Bones FK of Norway. Both Mathare goals were scored by Winnie Mugechi from Mathare North.