Health Officials Sound Alarm Over Growing Ebola Threat to Kenya
Kenya is now on high alert for Ebola following outbreaks in neighbouring countries, with health officials warning that despite having no confirmed infections, the country is still vulnerable
Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said the authorities in Kenya are staying on their toes while watching the situation in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) unfold, where outbreaks are growing and continue to pop up all over the place – both of these countries have plenty of links to Kenya through travel and trade.
Government Warns of Elevated Risk
According to the Ministry of Health, the fact that people keep on moving across the borders is upping the chances of the virus getting into the country.
Kenya’s health authorities are on the case thanks to a total of 635 Ebola cases in DRC and 18 reported cases in Uganda – and let me tell you Muthoni gave them a wake up call saying we need to stay super vigilant with the Ebola virus here.
Her comments sum it all up – health officials in the region are going crazy trying to prevent the spread of the disease before it gets out of hand.
No Confirmed Cases in Kenya
Even though the risks have gone up, the government is still reassuring the public that Kenya still has no Ebola infections.
Muthoni has already got the response mechanisms kicking in to quickly identify and get a hold on any suspected cases as soon as possible so they can’t spread.
“While Kenya is currently sitting pretty with zero cases, our rapid response teams need to be ready to go at a moment’s notice,” Muthoni said.
The Ministry of Health says their emergency response units are on standby all over the country while the surveillance teams are keeping a close eye on things in the neighbouring states.
Surveillance Intensified at Borders and Airports
Part of Kenya’s plan to be prepared is to increase screening and monitoring at all the major entry points – thats airports and border crossings.
Health officials are keeping a close eye on anyone coming from the affected areas and rapid response teams are on the scene to look into any reports of suspected infections.
So far its all part of an effort to stop a repeat of past outbreaks that put huge pressure on healthcare systems and freaked out the public.
Health Workers and Public Urged to Stay Vigilant
The authorities are continuing to call on healthcare workers and the rest of us to keep a close eye out for Ebola symptoms.
Muthoni is urging Kenyans to get those suspected cases reported right away – and she’s right, catching it early is one of the best ways to stop Ebola from spreading its wings.
The government is saying it’s going to keep on top of the regional situation and be proactive with surveillance to keep the country safe from any potential threats.
Understanding Ebola and Its Symptoms
Ebola is this nasty viral disease that affects both people and other primates. The WHO says that if you don’t get medical help ASAP, this thing can be deadly.
From what we’ve been told the virus is usually passed on through close contact with someone or something thats been infected either directly or through being contaminated in some way.
Symptoms come on quick and can include fever, headache, general tiredness, sore throat, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhoea. If it gets bad, patients can experience internal or external bleeding – and that’s not good.
The general feeling among experts is that the incubation period can be anywhere from 2-21 days – which is a pretty long time.
The WHO reckons the average fatality rate is around 50% – although the death rate varies depending on the outbreak.
A Disease With a Long History
Ebola was first identified back in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the DRC.
Since then there have been loads of outbreaks across Africa – which has prompted governments, health agencies and the like to invest big in surveillance, prevention and getting responses in place.
For Kenya, the word from health authorities is clear: just because there are no confirmed cases right now, we need to keep being vigilant, because outbreaks are still happening all over the region
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Health Officials Sound Alarm Over Growing Ebola Threat to Kenya
