Kenya has tightened Ebola screening measures at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), placing travellers from 10 African countries considered to be at higher risk of Ebola transmission under enhanced surveillance.
Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni announced the new measures on Wednesday after touring JKIA to assess the country’s preparedness and introduce additional protocols aimed at preventing the spread of the virus.
Under the new measures, passengers arriving from the 10 countries will be directed through Gate 16, where enhanced screening will be conducted.
The countries on Kenya’s Ebola radar are the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Angola, the Central African Republic, Zambia and Tanzania.
The Government has also introduced additional health declaration requirements for passengers entering and leaving the country.
According to PS Muthoni, passengers entering Kenya will be required to provide information on their verified health status and disclose any treatment they may have received within the previous month, where applicable.
The information, she said, will help health authorities identify and respond to potential cases early.
The new measures follow the confirmation of Kenya’s first Ebola case and the subsequent death of the patient, prompting heightened surveillance and preparedness measures across the country.
Muthoni said the enhanced protocols are intended to ensure that potential cases are identified early and appropriate action taken to prevent further transmission.
Passengers have also been urged to reduce unnecessary physical contact and temporarily revert to precautions that became common during the COVID-19 pandemic, including avoiding handshakes and hugs.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has commended Kenya for its preparedness efforts while calling for swift action to prevent the virus from spreading.
Health authorities are continuing to strengthen surveillance at points of entry as Kenya works with regional and international health partners to contain the threat.
