Ebola scare in Nairobi as three patients isolated

Three foreign citizens have caused fears of possible Ebola cases in Nairobi after they were admitted to hospitals in the city.

One of them was said to have flown in from West Africa. His friends who took him to the hospital yesterday were reportedly isolated too.

Scientists at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) in Nairobi Friday said they were analysing samples from the patient to establish whether he was infected with the disease.

The director of Kemri’s Centre for Virus Research, Dr George Nakitare, said they received the samples at midday yesterday and that results would be known within 10 hours.

A second scare was reported at another hospital, prompting a flurry of activities.

A Kemri official told the Nation that two people of Asian descent who had flown from West Africa had been isolated in a tent at the health institution. Kemri has a high-level WHO-accredited and collaborating centre for viral haemorrhagic research laboratory.

Cabinet Secretary for Health James Macharia said the fears were unfounded.

“Kenyans should ignore any rumours that there is Ebola in the country.

“Just because someone goes to hospital with fever, muscle aches and the likes does not mean its Ebola,” he said.

The Cabinet Secretary said the country had put in place measures in all counties and Sh500 million had been set aside to tackle Ebola.

FAULTED WHO

Mr Macharia further faulted the WHO for warning that Kenya was at a high risk of Ebola. He said the classification was a misconception, arguing that all African countries were at risk.

He said Kenya had devised efficient measures to put Ebola at bay and if the disease makes its way into the country, Sh530 million was available for tackling it.

“Kenyans should relax and trust the government,” he said. “We have put aside a robust contingency plan for all counties and put in place measures to stop Ebola before it comes.”

Further, the minister said staff at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Kenyatta National Hospital had been trained on the virus.
“The country is secure,” he said yesterday at Ndindika Health Centre in Laikipia County.

Meanwhile, Lesotho Friday said it had pulled out of this weekend’s final 2015 African Youth Championship qualifier against Nigeria, citing Ebola concerns.

“We have contacted the Confederation of African Football and copied the Nigeria Football Federation that we will not be coming for this game,” said Lesotho Football Federation official Limtho Mokhethi.

African football governing body, CAF, will have to decide on the winner of the match, as a second leg in Lesotho is not expected to take place.

Reports by Mike Mwaniki, Eunice Kilonzo and John Njagi