Ebola threat: Duale says Kenya on high alert

The government remains on high alert at all border points and within designated high-risk counties to stop Ebola from getting into the country, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has said.

The CS said measures have been put in place to prevent potential infiltration of the deadly outbreak currently surging through the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and parts of neighboring Uganda.

Speaking to journalists, Duale emphasised that surveillance has been significantly scaled up.

"I urge residents, especially those along the border with Uganda, to treat the cautionary advisories from the Ministry of Health with the utmost seriousness and to adhere strictly to all guidelines issued," Duale stated.

He made these remarks after joining thousands of Muslim faithful at the Sir Ali Muslim Club grounds in Nairobi for Eid-ul-Adha prayers.

The significant Islamic festival, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates the profound obedience of Prophet Ibrahim to Allah's command and symbolises faith, sacrifice and charity.

Addressing the media, Duale seamlessly pivoted from regional health security to domestic social harmony, underscoring that a healthy nation requires a united citizenry.

"I urge our Muslim faithful to embrace the true spirit of Eid by extending generosity to the less fortunate in our society," Duale said. "I call on all Kenyans to share in this season of sacrifice without viewing one another through the limiting lenses of tribe or religion."

The CS further called on political and community leaders across the country to prioritise and preach national unity, stressing that internal cohesion is absolutely essential for Kenya’s stability, economic progress, and collective capacity to handle external emergencies.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

The WHO warned of its severe nature, classifying it as a highly contagious and often fatal disease that is transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids.

Unlike more common strains, the Bundibugyo virus currently lacks an approved vaccine or specific licensed therapeutic treatment, making aggressive containment the only viable line of defense. 

In response to the mounting crisis, authorities took the drastic step of suspending all commercial flights to and from Bunia, the capital of the gold-rich Ituri province in eastern DRC where the virus continues to spread rapidly.

The containment directive was executed by the DRC’s Ministry of Transport and Communications, which implemented a total ban on civilian air traffic in and out of the provincial capital.

Despite the rigid restrictions, Kinshasa has allowed certain humanitarian exceptions to prevent a total collapse of emergency systems. Humanitarian, medical, and emergency flights may still be authorised, but only upon receiving specialised, stringent approval from both aviation and health authorities.