Kenya rolls out raft of preventive measures to contain Congo's deadly Ebola virus

On Tuesday, 8th May 2018, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo informed the World Health Organisation (WHO) of a new outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Bikoro region.
Kenya has put health agencies on high alert. Further, it has strengthened the routine screening of travelers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has assured Kenyans and all travelers to Kenya that there is no Ebola case reported in the country.

Kenya has rolled out a raft of measures to prevent the deadly Ebola Virus from entering the country from Congo.

On Tuesday, 8th May 2018, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo informed the World Health Organisation (WHO) of a new outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Bikoro, a city in the north-western part of the country near the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville).

The Ministry of Health of the DRC informed the World Health Organization (WHO) that two out of five samples collected from five patients tested positive for Ebola Virus at the country’s national laboratory in Kinshasa.

Arising from this confirmation, the Ministry of Health, Kenya has put health agencies on high alert. Further, it has strengthened the routine screening of travelers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Busia, Malaba, Namanga, Wilson Airport and all other points of entry.

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In all these places the Ministry of Health has installed the following:

1.Electronic thermo scanners

2.Handgun thermo scanners

3. Other support systems

The Ministry of Health affirms that there is no case of Ebola in the country. Further, in order to mitigate the threat, the Ministry of Health has established the National Health Emergencies Council, whose role is, among others, to act expeditiously to prevent importation of Ebola virus disease or any other diseases of Public Health importance into Kenya.

The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife wishes to assure Kenyans and all travelers to Kenya that there is no Ebola case reported in the country, and that adequate measures have put in place to ensure that the Ebola virus is not introduced or imported to the country.