WHO: Kenya a High Risk for Transmission of Ebola
by VOA News August 13, 2014
The World Health Organization classified Kenya as a high-risk area for transmission of the deadly Ebola virus on Wednesday.
Even though there have been no reported cases of Ebola in the country, Kenya's role as a transportation hub in East Africa makes it more vulnerable to the disease, WHO said.
Also Wednesday, Germany urged its citizens to leave Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia due to the Ebola outbreak in those West African nations hardest hit by the virus.
The foreign ministry announced the government directive on Wednesday, but said the appeal for nationals to leave did not apply to medical workers or diplomatic staff.
Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau announced late Tuesday it was closing its border with Guinea because of fears over the spread of Ebola.
Level 2 classification
In Kenya, WHO representative Dr. Custodia Mandlhate told reporters on Wednesday that WHO has classified Kenya as level 2, meaning at high risk for transmission.
'The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is a serious public health event of international concern," Mandlhate said. "Our quick risk analysis shows that Kenya is in high risk of transmission, therefore our preparedness to avert the importation or to quickly contain the circulation of the virus.'
According to WHO, Ebola has infected more than 1,800 people and taken the lives of more than 1,000 in four West African countries since March. Most of the deaths have occurred in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Kenyan media reported that some travelers have raised concerns over poor screening of travelers at the country's entry points, especially at airports.
The disease entered Nigeria last month when a man who was ill with Ebola flew from Liberia to Lagos.
Kenya's Health Secretary James Macharia said the government is moving to combat the disease.
'The ministry has constituted a multi-agency Ebola task force which has been meeting for three months now to assess the situation on local, country, regional and global levels and advise the minister on response activities," Macharia said.
Border closing
At a news conference late Tuesday, Guinea-Bissau Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira said its southern and eastern borders with Guinea would remain closed 'until further notice.'
Nigeria's health ministry confirmed a new case of Ebola on Monday. Officials there said 10 people have been infected and two of those people have died.
In another development, the Confederation of African Football said Wednesday that two African Cup qualifying matches that were set to be held in Guinea and Sierra Leone next month would be moved to other countries.
The group did not announce the new venues.
The current Ebola outbreak in West Africa is on pace to infect more people than all previous outbreaks of the virus combined.
The disease has no known cure.
On Tuesday, a WHO panel of medical experts said it is ethical to give Ebola patients unproven drugs to try to fight the disease.
Mohammed Yusuf contributed to this report from Nairobi.
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