Last week, the Democratic Republic of Congo declared a new Ebola outbreak in Mbandaka, a province in the northwest of the country. The World Health Organization has already activated its plan to fight the outbreak, sending about 200 doses of vaccine and a 20-seat specialized treatment centre.
Despite the efforts made to contain the virus on the spot, the countries in the region immediately took precautionary measures at their borders. In fact, the virus has already been detected in Uganda, after members of a family, who returned from the DRC this week to attend a funeral, tested positive with four deaths.
However, the WHO stated last week that the situation is not yet classifiable as a ‘public health emergency of international concern’, which would allow the situation to be managed through a joint effort by the countries concerned.
In Kenya, everyone was immediately activated. They are sending additional personnel to assist those already at the borders to screen all those entering the country and manage suspected cases, as reported by Dr Khamadi, director of the Kenya Virological Research Centre (KEMRI). In addition, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for health, Sicily Kariuki has reassured the public, saying there is no reason, as of today, to fear the spread of Ebola. Kenya has not yet recorded any Ebola cases.
Three suspected cases, who had come into contact with a lady who had recently travelled to the Ugandan border and tested negative, also tested negative.
