Kenya has dispelled fears of an Ebola outbreak following suspicions that a lady had contracted the deadly disease.
Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki said on Monday that tests had been conducted on the suspected victim and the results diffused fears of her having Ebola.
“Following the appeal to the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspected cases, a 36-year-old lady, who had traveled from Malaba town on the Kenya-Uganda border, presented herself on the 16 June 2019 to a health facility in Kericho after experiencing symptoms of headache, fever and vomiting. The rapid surveillance and response team which has been set up to respond has examined the patient, who is in stable condition, and has confirmed that she does not meet the case definition of Ebola,” cs Kariuki told journalists in a press conference.
She however confirmed that health authorities were taking extra measures to ensure the said lady received treatment for her condition.
“Precautionary measures have however been put in place including isolation of the patient and submission of the blood samples to KEMRI (Kenya Medical Research Institute) for testing,” she said.
Kenya has been on high alert following the outbreak of Ebola in neighbouring Uganda.
Two people – a 50-year-old grandmother and her five-year-old son – were last week confirmed to have died of Ebola in Uganda, after visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicenter of the disease.
Following the deaths, UNICEF said on Thursday said that health authorities across the country needed to take quick measures to ensure the disease does not spread further.
In her presser on Monday, CS Kariuki issued an assurance that her country did not have any cases of Ebola, but would remain vigilant.
“I wish to re-assure all Kenyans and our visitors that we do not have any cases of Ebola and indeed the ministry has undertaken and continues to implement preparedness measures,” she said.
