Team stuck in Kenya sparks Ebola fears

A picture taken on July 24, 2014 shows staff of the Christian charity Samaritan's Purse putting on protective gear in the ELWA hospital in the Liberian capital Monrovia. The World Health Organization Wednesday began a two-day emergency meeting on west Africa’s Ebola epidemic, with the UN agency deciding whether to declare it an international crisis. PHOTO | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Jomo Kenyatta International Airport manager Edward Kobuthi Friday confirmed the team’s arrival but said he was not aware it had been denied entry in Seychelles.
  • The 25 West African players and team officials were scheduled to play Seychelles in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier today but were reportedly barred entry on health fears.

Officials Friday sought to assure Kenyans of their safety after reports that footballers from Sierra Leone, which is reeling from an Ebola outbreak, were in the country.

The Sierra Leone national team is said to have arrived in Kenya after being turned away at the airport in Seychelles.

The 25 West African players and team officials were scheduled to play Seychelles in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier today but were reportedly barred entry on health fears.

The team then reportedly flew to Nairobi aboard a Kenya Airways flight and checked in at a hotel in Westlands on Wednesday before moving to another in Thika Road to await their connecting flight home on Sunday.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport manager Edward Kobuthi Friday confirmed the team’s arrival but said he was not aware it had been denied entry in Seychelles.

“There is no cause for alarm. There are very many West Africans in the country currently and they have all undergone thorough medical check-ups. As far as I know, the team is only connecting from here,” he said.

Efforts to reach the Sierra Leoneans failed as the Nation was told they had checked out of the Westlands hotel. At the Thika Road hotel, management denied having any West African guests.

Medical Services Director Nicholas Muraguri assured Kenyans that they were under no threat from the contagion that has killed more than 700 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

“There is no case for alarm as Ebola is not contagious if not symptomatic. Usually, symptomatic people are normally very sick clinically ,’’ he assured.