Kenya in high-risk category for Ebola spread, WHO says
What you need to know:
- Kenya is classified as level 2, which means a high-risk area for the transmission category.
- Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said banning Kenya Airways from flying to West Africa will not help stop the spread of the virus.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has categorised Kenya as a high-risk area for Ebola transmission.
WHO representative in Kenya Dr Custodia Mandhate said Kenya is classified as level 2, which means a high-risk area for the transmission category.
She commended efforts by the Ministry of Health to screen passengers jetting into the country at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from countries with Ebola but called for additional measures to prevent the virus from spreading.
“Safety measures are critical and have to involve all relevant sectors,” she said during a press briefing Wednesday.
Speaking at the same function, Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said banning Kenya Airways from flying to west Africa will not help stop the spread of the virus.
He said other airlines, such as RwandaAir and Ethiopian Airlines, are flying the route and land at JKIA.
“Kenya receives 76 flights a week from west Africa via Kenya Airways, RwandAir and Ethiopian Airlines and therefore (is) at high risk,” he said.
Recently, travellers raised concern over “poor” screening of passengers from Ebola-hit countries at JKIA, which they fear could increase the possibility of the deadly disease spreading into Kenya.
