The government has announced heightened screening of travellers arriving from several East and Central African countries after Kenya recorded its first imported Ebola Bundibugyo virus case.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said passengers and aircraft arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from the 10 countries will be directed to Gate 16 for enhanced screening.

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

Duale said Port Health o fficials and screening facilities had been deployed at Gate 16 to assess travellers arriving from the countries considered to be at risk amid the ongoing Ebola alert.

📌 What You Need to Know

“Screening for our travellers from the Ebola disease epicentre countries has been enhanced at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Gate 16,” Duale said while addressing the press on Wednesday, October 7.

He explained that several health officers had been deployed to the station to undertake the screening and guide passengers in filling health declaration forms.

“Any aircraft coming into JKIA from these 10 countries will go to Gate Number 16, where our Port Health personnel will be there, where our scanning facilities have been placed, where the declaration form,” he reiterated.

Duale also noted that the Ministry is also expanding the country's preparedness capacity, with public, private and faith-based health facilities being mobilised to increase their ability to handle suspected Ebola cases.

According to the CS, five facilities near the Uganda border had been designated as temporary isolation centres for suspected cases, with preparations expected to be completed within the next 10 to 14 days.

The facilities include Malaba Health Centre, Busia Border and Kocholia, with a district hospital in Busia County also undergoing renovations to serve as a first point of care for suspected cases crossing into Kenya.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke