New US Ebola patient will not be treated in Kenya

An American aid worker who tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo last week may not be brought to Kenya for treatment, easing fears surrounding the US-backed quarantine facility in Nanyuki.

 The patient, who works for the Christian humanitarian group Samaritan's Purse, contracted the deadly virus while working in eastern DRC, where a major Ebola outbreak has already killed more than 640 people.

 The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the case on Friday last week.

 Samaritan's Purse said the employee had been working in logistics in Bunia, the main city in Ituri Province, and was not directly caring for Ebola patients.

 The organisation said he had been in isolation since Monday last week and was receiving treatment at one of its Ebola treatment centres in Congo.

 The organisation did not publicly confirm where the patient would be transferred for further treatment.

 However, international media reported that preparations were under way to fly him to a specialist treatment centre in Frankfurt, Germany.

 Sources familiar with the plans said Germany, not Kenya, was being considered for the evacuation because the Kenya facility in Laikipia is not yet complete.

 The CDC said this was the second American case after the first patient was evacuated to Germany in May and has since recovered.

 It recommended avoiding non-essential travel to Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces in the DRC.

 "Travellers to other parts of DRC or Uganda should take precautions to avoid Ebola exposure and monitor for symptoms while travelling and for 21 days after leaving," the centre said.

 The development comes only weeks after Kenya's High Court halted the construction of an Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki that had been intended for Americans exposed to Ebola in Central Africa.

 The project triggered protests and court cases after residents feared Kenya could become a treatment centre for foreign Ebola patients.

 The court later suspended the project and construction was stopped.

 The latest case is likely to reassure many Kenyans because the infected American is expected to receive treatment in Europe rather than Kenya.

 Last week, the United States announced Sh1.9 billion to strengthen Kenya's Ebola preparedness systems.

 "Strengthening preparedness will protect the health and economic well-being of Kenyans, reduce the risk of cross-border spread, and advance the shared regional and global health security mandate," the US Embassy in Nairobi said.

 The funding will be used to improve disease surveillance, train health workers, strengthen laboratories and support screening at airports and border points.

 More than 800 laboratory workers and 1,700 disease detectives have already received training under the programme.

 "In today's interconnected world, an infectious disease threat anywhere can quickly become a global threat," the embassy noted.

 Kenya has not recorded any confirmed Ebola cases during the current outbreak, but health authorities say they remain on high alert because of the country's strong transport links with East and Central Africa.

 Screening has been increased at border points and emergency response teams have been placed on standby.

 "While no case has been reported in the country, we remain on high alert, guided by the understanding that preparedness is our strongest defence against public health emergencies," Health CS Aden Duale said.

 The outbreak in Congo is being caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

 Scientists around the world are racing to develop new vaccines and medicines to fight the disease.

 According to the Africa CDC and Congolese authorities, the outbreak has now caused more than 1,800 infections and at least 648 deaths in Congo.

 Cases have also spread to neighbouring Uganda, which has reported 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths, the World Health Organization said.

 Uganda's last confirmed Ebola case was reported on June 21.