The arrival of vaccines and anti-viral agents to deal with the outbreak of H1N1 influenza in parts of the country will delay, the Health Ministry has said.

According to the Ministry, suppliers have served notice that the arrival of the vaccines and the anti-viral drugs, Tamiflu, will delay.

“It is expected that the vaccine will arrive in Accra by the middle of next week. The Ministry of Health and WHO are closely following up to ensure this is expedited. The vaccines will be immediately deployed for immediate use on arrival. We will keep you updated on any new development,” the Health Ministry said in a statement Monday.

The Health Ministry, with assistance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) procured vaccines from suppliers outside Ghana for urgent use.

An outbreak of the Swine flu at a secondary school in Kumasi, the Ashanti Region capital, claimed at least four lives, caused the sickness of hundreds of students and disrupted academic activities.

Aside from the outbreak of swine flu at Kumasi Academy, a death from meningitis was recorded at the Koforidua Secondary Technical School in the Eastern Region.

Other meningitis deaths were recorded at the Damango Senior High School in the Northern Region and the Bawku Secondary Technical and Tempane SHS both in the Upper East Region.

The Health Ministry, however, says it has taken the following steps to prevent further outbreak of the diseases.

1. Alert has been sent to all health facilities for heightened awareness, early case detection and improved case management.

2. Enhanced surveillance in all the schools and communities.

3. Public education is ongoing.

4. Contact tracing initiated and ongoing.

5. National Technical Coordinating Committee (NTCC), Regional and District Public Health Emergency Management Committees activated.

6. Vaccines and more antivirals for H1N1 arranged for.

7. Initiated process to enhance School Health

8. Designating a hospital to each second cycle institution.