WHO advises against travel curbs after Kenya Ebola case

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised against travel restrictions in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Uganda due to an Ebola case reported in Kenya. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyes stated that the agency is supporting these governments in contact tracing, surveillance, screening, and other measures to identify and prevent further spread of the virus.

The patient was a Kenyan citizen living in DRC for the past seven years, who fell ill about a month ago in DRC, was treated in several hospitals before traveling to Kenya via Uganda. He was admitted to a Nairobi hospital and died later that night, with laboratory tests confirming his Ebola diagnosis. Kenyan authorities have identified 28 contacts and are tracing 23 passengers and four crew members from the same flight.

Kenya has trained 4,971 healthcare workers in Ebola case management and infection prevention. The Ministry of Health has set up an isolation facility with a capacity of 49 people at National Police Service Hospital, with additional facilities at Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.