NAIROBI, Kenya Ocrt 8 – The World Health Organization has advised Kenya against closing its borders or imposing blanket travel and trade restrictions following confirmation of the country’s first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease.

📻 Breaking It Down

WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said such measures would be less effective than screening travellers, tracing contacts and strengthening other public health interventions.

“WHO advises against blanket travel or trade restrictions, which are less effective than screening, contact tracing and other measures,” Tedros said during a media briefing on Wednesday.

He said countries should instead focus on measures that can quickly identify and contain potential infections.

📌 What You Need to Know

“Transparency should be rewarded, not punished,” Tedros added.

Tedros disclosed that he had spoken to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Tuesday to discuss the case and Kenya’s preparedness to respond to an Ebola infection.

“Yesterday, I spoke to the Cabinet Secretary to discuss the case and the measures that Kenya had taken to prepare for an event like this,” he said.

The WHO chief commended the Kenyan government for its response and for notifying the global health agency of the case under the International Health Regulations.

Kenya reported the case on Tuesday after a Kenyan citizen who had fallen ill in the Democratic Republic of Congo travelled through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi.

The patient was taken to hospital immediately after arrival, isolated and later confirmed to have Bundibugyo virus disease. He died on Monday while receiving treatment.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya