The Ministry of Health has called for vigilance among members of the public amid reports of an outbreak of Ebola virus in Uganda.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Wednesday called on all the 47 counties to activate their rapid response teams in preparation for any eventuality, in an effort to support identification of any suspected cases.
The CS further called for screening of at risk populations such as travellers, truck drivers, bush meat handlers and healthcare workers to help pick any possible cases.
“The two countries share a long common border that is mostly porous. It is important to note that there is substantial human traffic between Uganda and Kenya for trade and other socio-economic activities,” Kagwe said in a statement.
“This puts Kenya at high risk of disease importation and therefore members of the public need to be vigilant and report any suspected cases.”
The ministry has however, noted that there is no need to panic, but advised that members of the public watch out for people showing symptoms of acute onset of fever, red eyes and bleeding from body openings.
The Ugandan government on Tuesday confirmed the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Mubende District, Uganda.
Through the ministry of health, the government said the confirmed case was a 24-year-old male, a resident of Ngabano village of Madudu Sub County in Mubende District.
He had shown the symptoms but later succumbed to the disease.
