Ebola: Gov't puts flights from 10 countries under radar

Kenya reported its first case and death on Tuesday, after the patient, coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), died at the Nairobi Hospital while receiving medical attention.

Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale said on Wednesday that flights from DRC, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Zambia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Central African Republic will be needed to use a designated entry point upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

"Any aircraft coming to JKIA from these countries will go to Gate 16 where our scanning health facilities have been placed," he said.

Passengers will undergo mandatory health screening and fill declaration forms before being allowed through the airport.

"Declaration forms must be filled with all required truth. If you falsify it, in line with the Public Health Act, you are committing a crime," he said.

The Ministry is undertaking a high-contact tracing exercise from the patient zero who made entry into Kenya on October 3.

The tracing has led to the identification of 57 contacts and 10 persons have been quarantined in different facilities.

According to the Ministry, some of the isolation and treatment centres include the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), the National Police Service Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and the US-funded quarantine centre at Laikipia Air Base, Nanyuki.

Others near the nation's borders set to act as temporary holding centres include the Malaba Health Centre, the Kocholia Sub-County Hospital, as well Alupe Sub-County Referral Hospital in Busia, which is currently undergoing renovations.

Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has said the country remains alert, with officers around the country activated to ensure timely response to any suspected case.

PS Muthoni says the ministry is working closely with county governments and faith-based health facilities to prepare for a surge in numbers, if any.

The PS has also allayed any fears about the spread of the deadly virus, noting that Kenya does not have an outbreak, but an imported case under management.

Meanwhile, the government is mobilising about Ksh.70 billion from international partners as the National Treasury has set aside an initial Ksh.2.6 billion for emergency response.

The government has established a preliminary Ebola response mitigation fund of Ksh.2.6 billion to assist the Ministry of Health in preparing for and containing an Ebola outbreak in the country.