No Ebola scare: Govt reassures a panicked nation

No Ebola scare: Govt reassures a panicked nation

The government has allayed fears of an Ebola outbreak in the country after a suspected case was reported in Kericho County.

In a press briefing on Monday, Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki said the government had confirmed that the case reported in Kericho involving a 36-year-old woman “does not meet the case definition of Ebola.”

“The rapid surveillance and response team which has been set up to respond has examined the patient who is in stable condition and has confirmed that she does not meet the case definition of Ebola,” said CS Kariuki.

She was speaking at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport during an inspection of the  screening exercise and Ebola preparedness by the medical teams at the airport.

“I wish to reassure all Kenyans and our visitors that we do not have any cases of Ebola and indeed the Ministry has undertaken and continues to implement the preparedness measures,” she said.

The CS noted that an alert has been issued to all health workers and public to enhance surveillance measures and report any suspected cases.

The 36-year-old woman put in isolation at the Kericho County Referral Hospital over suspected Ebola symptoms was experiencing headache, fever and vomiting.

Blood samples from the patient have been submitted to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Nairobi for further analysis.

The preliminary test results are expected to be ready by end of the day on Monday.

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ebola Sicily Kariuki

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