Kenya: Kenya Races to Trace All Contacts After First Ebola Death, Who Official Says
[UN News] Kenya's first Ebola death has triggered a race to trace everyone the victim came into contact with, as the United Nations and partners provide full support, the World Health Organization's (WHO) top official in the country has told UN News in her first interview on the case.
A Kenyan man who had lived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for several years died of Ebola at a hospital in Nairobi on Monday, marking the country's first Ebola fatality. Dr. Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, the World Health Organization's (WHO) top official in Kenya, said the coming days would be crucial in preventing community spread of the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
Authorities have identified around 10 relatives and are quarantining them, as well as contacting 21 health workers who treated the victim and 23 passengers and four crew members on the flight from Entebbe to Kampala. Dr. Kimambo stressed the importance of quarantining contacts to monitor and quickly test for symptoms, as the incubation period is between two to eight days.
She urged the public not to panic and to take necessary precautions, including maintaining hygiene and seeking care early if feeling unwell.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
