WHO warns against Ebola lockdown in Kenya

By Joseph Ogungo, NAIROBI Kenya 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised Kenya against imposing travel or trade restrictions following the country’s first reported Ebola case.

In a statement on Tuesday, October 6, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also urged other countries not to restrict travel to or trade with Kenya and other affected countries based on the currently available information.

Ghebreyesus said WHO was closely monitoring the situation and would, where necessary, verify any travel and trade measures introduced in response to the outbreak.

“WHO advises against any restriction of travel to, or trade with, the affected countries based on the currently available information. We continue to closely monitor and, where necessary, verify travel and trade measures in relation to this epidemic,” he stated.

At the same time, the WHO boss said the organisation is continuing to support Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in contact tracing to ensure all those suspected of having had contact with the identified case are identified.

"WHO is supporting the governments of Kenya, the DRC, and Uganda in contact tracing, surveillance, screening, and other response measures to rapidly identify potential cases and prevent further spread of the virus," he added.

The warning comes a day after Kenya reported its first-ever case of the Ebola virus.

In a statement on Tuesday, October 6, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the patient had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi.

According to the CS, the patient, who has since died of the virus, had been living and working in the DRC for the past seven years, fell ill about a month ago and was treated at several hospitals in the DRC before travelling to Uganda by road as he made his way back to Kenya.

Following the reported case, President William Ruto convened the National Security Council Committee (NSCC) to assess the Ebola situation in the country after a patient died in the first confirmed case.

In a statement from the State House on Tuesday, October 6, Ruto directed a multi-agency team to trace everyone who may have been exposed, including the deceased's family, healthcare workers and fellow passengers.

According to the Head of State, the NSCC will also recommend measures to safeguard the country and help prevent the virus from spreading.

Ebola symptoms can appear 2 to 21 days after exposure and may include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea; severe cases can cause bleeding. 

Anyone with symptoms after possible exposure should avoid contact with others and seek medical attention immediately.