Kenya on high alert on suspected Ebola case in western region

NAIROBI, Kenya - The Health officials in Kenya say they are on high alert following a suspected case of Ebola case on the country’s border with Uganda.

According to health officials in Kakamega County, western Kenya, preliminary tests conducted by health officials Kenyan Ebola patient, who had traveled to Uganda, show that he might not be having the highly contagious disease.

The 32-year-old male patient who was admitted to a Mumias hospital had displayed Ebola symptoms. Uganda has confirmed at least 36 cases of Ebola and 19 deaths.

Mr Boaz Gichana- Mumias West Disease Surveillance Coordinator –in a statement to the press on Friday said that the patient is currently at St Mary Hospital isolation unit awaiting laboratory tests.

The government of Kenya issued an Ebola alert and called for screening of travelers at entry points on the border with Uganda following an outbreak in the neighbouring country. Both Tanzania and South Sudan have also heightened surveillance, especially at their borders with Uganda.

Rwanda on the other hand has begun screening travelers at the borders to prevent the cross-border spread of Ebola.

In August this year, the Kenyan government instructed its health officials at the border to be on high alert after the World Health Organization (WHO) said it was investigating a suspected case of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Days later the DRC announced an Ebola outbreak and has this week announced an end to its 15th outbreak after no newer cases of the disease were reported for 42 days.

The Museveni’s government is currently battling a rise in infections and deaths caused by the Sudan strain, which currently has no vaccine.

Ugandan health officials have urged residents to adhere to measures to prevent infection and spread of the virus.

WHO findings reveal that the Ebola outbreaks and responses have shown that early diagnosis and treatment, optimized supportive care with fluid and electrolyte repletion, and treatment of symptoms, significantly improve survival rates of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.

The disease is usually introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope or porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest.

GAROWE ONLINE