Nairobi, April 10 -- Doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) say they have recorded a huge rise in the number of patients battling influenza.

This has raised concerns that a major outbreak could be creeping up on Kenyans.

An internal memo this week to staff at the region's largest referral hospital urged them to avoid close contact with sick people.

Dr Irene Inwani, the senior director of clinical services at KNH, asked her colleagues to avoid close contact with patients who are showing respiratory symptoms, apart from covering their noses and mouths with a tissue when they cough or sneeze and then throwing the tissue in a bin.

"If you are sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to avoid infecting them. Wash your hands...