NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 7 — Kenya has designated Gate 16 at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for all passengers arriving from 10 African countries considered at higher risk of Ebola transmission as the country steps up preparedness following an imported case.

📻 Breaking It Down

Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said the measure is part of enhanced surveillance and screening at the country’s main international gateway.

The 10 countries are Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Angola, Zambia, Tanzania and the Central African Republic (CAR).

Muthoni, who toured JKIA on Wednesday to assess preparedness, said passengers arriving from the designated countries would be required to pass through Gate 16 for screening.

📌 What You Need to Know

She said Kenya was also considering introducing exit screening to ensure passengers leaving the country are not carrying the virus to other destinations.

“We may also introduce the exit screening just to be sure that wherever you’re going you’re not exporting the virus or the Ebola virus,” Muthoni said.

The PS urged travellers to complete the required online health declaration before landing to reduce congestion at the airport and facilitate screening.

“Fill in the online form even before you land so that by the time you land this also will reduce the crowding that we might be having at the airport,” she said.

Muthoni reiterated that Kenya has not declared an Ebola outbreak, describing the situation as an imported case involving a Kenyan who travelled about 3,000 kilometres by air and road before arriving in the country.

“We still do not have an outbreak. We do not have an outbreak for Ebola specifically and what we are having is a case that has been imported from another country,” she said.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya