The Ministry of Health has listed Nairobi and Mombasa Counties as high-risk entry points for the Ebola Virus following its outbreak in neighboring Uganda.
Speaking during a presser on Tuesday, September 27, Health Director General Dr Patrick Amoth earmarked the two counties which host the Jomo Kenyatta and Moi International Airports.
Amoth flagged 18 other counties including those within the Nairobi Metropolitan region including Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado and Nakuru country, which featured in the 'red zone' during the pandemic.
He explained that the Ministry has deployed personnel in the aforementioned counties to trace any possible cases.
"Kenya needs to prevent the Ebola virus outbreak from spreading into the country, including stepping up surveillance for detection and preparedness for an appropriate response," Amoth remarked.
Other counties include Makueni, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Kericho, Bungoma, Siaya, Migori, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Turkana, and Uasin Gishu.
In addition, Amoth revealed that Kisumu city and Eldoret towns will also be monitored owing to the presence of international airports. Kakuma, which has a high presence of Ugandan nationals has also been listed as a high-risk area.
The Ministry asked Kenyans to look out for the symptoms of the disease such as bleeding from body openings, a running stomach, high fever, a cough characterized by chest pains, and skin rash.
Any individual displaying the symptoms should seek urgent medical attention and report to the ministry. The DG further outlined some of the precautionary measures to take.
“Members of the public are advised to practise regular handwashing, wear face masks, and maintain social distance.
"Avoid touching or burial of dead bodies that have died of unknown causes unless confirmed by health authorities, and avoid contact or eating bush meat, especially from monkeys, bats, baboons, gorillas, and chimpanzees,” Amoth reiterated.
Meanwhile in Uganda, the death toll from the Ebola virus has shot to 23, two weeks after the country confirmed its first infection on September 11.
