The Ministry of Health on Friday, October 4, claimed that the situation at Starehe Girls High School had been brought under control.
The health ministry announced that the students who were supposedly suffering from an unidentified infectious disease were, in reality, suffering from mass hysteria.
It recommended that all affected students needed to undergo an individual psychological evaluation to unearth what triggered the outbreak, KBC reported.
The school was closed indefinitely on Wednesday, October 3, with students who were affected remaining in the school in what was referred to as a quarantine.
Parents had earlier, however, expressed great reservations when they picked up the girls from school. Most of them noted that the unknown disease could have spread even father with the untested students at home and on public transport.
"We don't know what kind of disease these students are suffering from and we fear they might infect our other children when they get home," one parent commented.
More than 80 students had been affected by the time the school closed with the Ministry of Health suggesting they be given a break of three days.
KTN reported that the ministry through the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) had collected samples from the infected students.
The samples were then analysed by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) for influenza, whooping cough and rhinovirus, with all results turning negative.
The symptoms - high-pitched hysterical coughs, fever and sneezing - were first exhibited by a form one student and spread to the tens of others with.
The School’s director Sister Jane Soita assured that the situation was ‘minor’ insisting that it was under control.
The Ministry of Education confirmed that the school would remain closed until Monday, October 7.
