The Kenya Medical Association (KMA) has issued an urgent Ebola virus preparedness alert to doctors and other healthcare workers across the country amid fears that the deadly virus could spread to Kenya.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a statement on Thursday, June 11, KMA announced guidance from the Ministry of Health, citing a sharp rise in Ebola virus disease cases in the region, urging heightened clinical vigilance in health facilities.

According to the guidance, healthcare workers were directed to maintain a high index of suspicion for all patients with fever and related symptoms.

Accordingly, travel history to affected countries or contact with travellers from those regions must also be routinely assessed.

📌 What You Need to Know

According to the association, any patient presenting symptoms of the virus must be isolated first as they set foot in hospitals, even as they wait for their test results.

“Do not wait for travel history confirmation or laboratory results before initiating isolation. Patients may not volunteer their history or may be too ill to provide it. ISOLATE FIRST. Investigate and initiate management after,” the circular reads.

Clinical features highlighted for immediate isolation include sudden fever, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising.

So far, Kenya has not reported any confirmed case of the disease, and the government has moved to contain the situation even as fear grows.

While Kenya currently has no confirmed Ebola cases, KMA warned that t he country remains at risk due to high cross-border movement through key entry points, including Busia, Malaba, Suam, Namanga, and the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

The guidance comes amid heightened surveillance at borders and airports to make sure that the disease does not break out in the country.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke