By KPC Reporter
The Ministry of Health has issued an urgent advisory to all County Governments following a confirmed outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths have been reported in Ituri Province, with laboratory tests confirming Ebola infection in 13 out of 20 samples.
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In a statement, Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muthoni Muriuki said, “The Ministry of Health wishes to assure all Kenyans that, as of today (Saturday), no confirmed or suspected case of Ebola Virus Disease has been detected within the Republic of Kenya.”
She emphasized, however, that the risk remains high due to significant cross-border movement in the region.
The advisory comes after Uganda confirmed an imported case involving a 59-year-old Congolese national who succumbed to the illness in Kampala on May 14. Ugandan authorities have since activated national response mechanisms, including intensified surveillance, rapid response deployment, and contact tracing.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health has directed all counties to immediately enhance preparedness measures.
These include heightened screening at airports, seaports, and land border crossings, activation of rapid response teams, strengthening of infection prevention and control in health facilities, and refresher training for healthcare workers.
Counties are also urged to intensify public awareness campaigns and counter misinformation.
Ebola Virus Disease is a severe and often fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated objects, or infected wild animals.
Common symptoms include high fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and unexplained bleeding.
“The Government of Kenya remains fully committed to safeguarding the health and safety of all persons living in the country,” the statement concluded.
For reporting suspected cases, the Ministry has provided emergency hotlines: 719, 0729 47 14 14, and 0732 35 35 35.
