NAIROBI, Kenya Oct 7 – Questions over how an imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease entered Kenya have intensified after the patient died while receiving treatment at Nairobi Hospital, with doctors now demanding urgent measures to prevent further transmission.

📻 Breaking It Down

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) said the confirmed case and subsequent death should serve as a warning that Kenya’s preparedness for high-consequence infectious diseases cannot be left to chance.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, KMPDU said it had learnt with concern of the confirmed case and expressed condolences to the patient’s family and loved ones.

The union also raised concern over the safety of healthcare workers who attended to the patient and those who may have been exposed at Nairobi Hospital or other points of care.

📌 What You Need to Know

“All healthcare workers who may have come into contact with the patient, whether at Nairobi Hospital or other points of care, must receive immediate medical monitoring, psychological support and appropriate follow-up,” KMPDU said.

The union called for specialised personal protective equipment (PPE), strict infection prevention measures and adequate training for healthcare workers dealing with suspected Ebola cases.

The doctors’ union further demanded that contact tracing be conducted rigorously, promptly and transparently, warning that gaps in information could fuel misinformation and complicate efforts to contain the disease.

“Healthcare workers and the public need clear, accurate and regular information on the response, without creating unnecessary panic or leaving room for misinformation,” KMPDU said.

The union also wants the government to confirm that isolation and high-consequence infectious disease treatment units in regional referral facilities are operational, properly equipped and staffed by trained personnel.

KMPDU warned that preparedness should not remain confined to policy documents, saying the country must ensure hospitals are ready before additional suspected or confirmed cases emerge.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya