Kenya issues health alert after Ebola outbreak in Uganda

Kenya issues health alert after Ebola outbreak in Uganda

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe. | FILE

Kenya’s Ministry of Health has issued a health alert following the declaration of an Ebola virus resurgence in Uganda.

Uganda’s Health Ministry on Tuesday said the outbreak was detected in a village in Central Uganda, claiming one life. 

Due to the porous nature of the Kenya-Uganda border in the Western region, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Wednesday noted that there is substantial human traffic between the two countries, which puts Kenya at high risk of Ebola importation.

He therefore issued an alert to all counties to be vigilant and enhance surveillance, especially at the border, to activate rapid response teams to support identification of any suspected eases, and making prompt reporting in case of any.

The Health CS further called for screening of at-risk populations including travellers, truck drivers, bush meat handlers and health care workers, as well as sensitisation of the community to identify suspected cases.

“Sensitise health care workers on Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) measures, case management and sample management and mobilise all the relevant stakeholders to initiate prevention, preparedness a. response measures and development of county EVD contingency plans,” CS Kagwe directed.

He also urged Kenyans to take heightened precautions while visiting Uganda as well as Democratic Republic of Congo, where frequent outbreaks have largely influenced the ebola incidences Uganda has reported in the past.

CS Kagwe, however, urged Kenyans not to panic but instead watch out for any person presenting an acute onset of fever and any of the Ebola signs “especially if in contact with poisons with history of travel from Uganda and/or Democratic Republic of Congo within the previous three weeks.”

The key signs of Ebola infection are vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pains, headache, sore throat, measles-like rash, red eyes, and bleeding from body openings. 

The Ebola virus enters the body through contact with infected blood, urine, faeces, semen or other bodily fluids within an incubation period of 2-21 days.

So far, only one death has been reported in Uganda, of a 24-year-old male who had been treated for other symptoms before developing Ebola-like symptoms and signs. 

Ugandan health officials are conducting contact-tracing to identify any close contacts of the deceased, while six suspicious prior deaths are in the meantime under investigations.

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