MoH urge vigilance at Kenya-Uganda border amid Ebola outbreak
The Ministry of Health has urged vigilance at the Kenya-Uganda border after the latter declared Ebola outbreak yesterday.
According to reports from Uganda, the outbreak was first detected in Ngabano village, Madudu Sub-County, with one fatal case reported.
“According to the report from Ugandan authorities, the outbreak has been detected in Ngabano village of Madudu Sub- county, Mubende District in Central Uganda. So far only one fatal case has been reported, a 24-year-old male who died on September 19, 2022,” the statement read.
“The victim had been treated for other symptoms before developing Ebola like symptoms and signs. Health officials in Uganda are currently under investigations,” it added.
The virus is not new in Uganda as previous cases had been recorded in the past mostly influenced by frequent outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Uganda being a neighbouring country to Kenya, concerns of the spread are likely to occur since there is a substantial human traffic for trade and other socio-economic activities between the two countries.
“The main mode of transport is road, air and water (through Lake Victoria). Some of the formal land crossings include border points such as Busia, Malaba, Lwakhakha, Suam and air travel through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Kisumu International Airport, Moi International Airport and Eldoret International Airport. In addition, there are other numerous informal land and water border crossing points. All these puts Kenya at high risk of disease importation and therefore members of the public need to be vigilant and report any suspected cases,” the statement read.
The government urged Kenyans not to panic but to take high precautions while visiting Uganda as well as DRC and to also watch out for anyone depicting signs like acute onset of fever
The government also out listed some of the symptoms that need to be looked out for which are, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pains, headache, sore throat, measles like rash, reddening of the eyes, and bleeding from bloody openings.
The government stated that all counties should be vigilant and enhance surveillance especially at the border, activate response teams to support identification of any suspected cases and make prompt reporting, screening of at risk populations including travellers, truck drivers, bush meat handlers and health care workers.
Other regulatory measures are sensitizing health care workers on infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures, case management and sample management, mobilize all the relevant stakeholders to initiate prevention, preparedness and response measures and development of county EVD contingency plans.
The public has been urged to notify the nearest administration or health facility or better yet to contact 0729471414 or 0732353535 in case they come across anyone with the virus’ symptoms.
