The World Health Organisation (WHO) has praised Kenya for its transparency and swift response following the death of a patient who tested positive for Ebola after travelling from the Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda.
WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Janabi said Kenyan health authorities acted promptly to detect, isolate and manage the patient in line with WHO recommendations. He also commended the government for immediately sharing information about the imported case.
“I thank the Government of Kenya for its transparency and for promptly sharing information about this imported case,” Janabi said.
He described the response as an example of the International Health Regulations (IHR) at work, stressing the importance of countries quickly sharing information when dealing with potentially dangerous infectious diseases.
“I am saddened by the death of a patient with Ebola in Kenya,” Janabi said, extending his condolences to the family of the deceased.
The patient became ill while in the Democratic Republic of Congo before travelling through Uganda and later arriving in Kenya seeking medical care.
Janabi said the case should not be interpreted as evidence that Ebola is spreading within Kenya, drawing a distinction between an imported case and an outbreak.
“It is important to distinguish between an imported case and an outbreak,” he said.
“An imported case occurs when an infected individual enters a country from elsewhere. An outbreak would require ongoing local transmission within the country, which, at this stage, has not occurred in Kenya.”
Kenyan health authorities have placed all identified contacts under close monitoring as part of measures to prevent any possible spread of the virus.
Janabi said the response would continue to involve health workers, the government and partners, while arrangements were being made for a safe and dignified burial of the deceased in accordance with established public health protocols.
“All identified contacts in Kenya are under close monitoring,” he said, adding that the burial would be conducted according to established public health measures.
The WHO official said the Kenyan case also demonstrated the risks posed by infectious diseases in an increasingly interconnected world, where people can travel across several countries while incubating an infection.
“Such cases demonstrate that imported infections can occur in an interconnected world and that strong surveillance and response systems are essential,” Janabi said.
He cited a similar incident in France several weeks ago, where authorities managed an imported Ebola case involving a French physician who had been working in eastern DR Congo.
The two cases, he said, underline the need for countries to maintain strong disease surveillance systems and the capacity to rapidly detect, isolate and manage suspected infections.
Janabi also praised Kenya’s health workers and partners involved in responding to the case.
“My appreciation to the health workers, the Government of Kenya, and partners responding to this situation,” he said.
The WHO continues to emphasise vigilance among countries neighbouring Ebola-affected areas, particularly given the movement of people across borders.
The development comes as health officials seek to reassure the public that an imported Ebola case does not, by itself, constitute an outbreak in the country.
