Kenya has activated emergency preparedness measures following the WHO’s declaration of a global Ebola emergency….reports Asian Lite News
Kenya has heightened nationwide preparedness measures after the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) over the rapidly escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
Kenya’s Director General for Health, Patrick Amoth, said on Sunday that the Ministry of Health had activated a National Ebola Preparedness Team and placed the National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre on high alert to strengthen monitoring and coordination efforts across the country.
Amoth said surveillance systems for viral haemorrhagic fevers had been intensified, while screening at airports, border crossings and other entry points had been strengthened amid fears of cross border transmission.
He added that Kenya was reinforcing laboratory and diagnostic readiness while continuing specialised training for healthcare workers on Ebola detection and response procedures.
Public awareness campaigns have also been stepped up to improve risk communication and counter misinformation related to the outbreak.
Amoth said Kenya was working closely with the WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure a coordinated regional response.
He urged the public to remain calm but vigilant and to maintain strict hygiene measures.
Kenya’s Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni confirmed that no confirmed or suspected Ebola cases had been detected in the country as of Sunday. However, she directed all counties to immediately strengthen preparedness due to increased movement of people and goods across the region.
The heightened alert follows the WHO’s declaration of a global health emergency after consultations with authorities in the DRC and Uganda.
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the declaration was made under Article 12 of the International Health Regulations due to the growing scale and spread of the outbreak.
Tedros noted that it was the first time a WHO Director General had declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern before convening the Emergency Committee.
Health officials said the outbreak had already spread across several locations. In the DRC, 30 confirmed Ebola cases have been reported in Ituri Province, while Uganda has confirmed two cases in the capital Kampala, including one death linked to travellers arriving from the DRC.
An American national also tested positive for Ebola and was later transferred to Germany for specialised treatment.
The WHO warned that the actual scale of the outbreak could be much larger than official figures indicate, citing more than 500 suspected cases and over 130 suspected deaths.
The organisation also expressed concern over infections among healthcare workers, suggesting possible transmission within health facilities.
According to the WHO, ongoing insecurity and conflict in parts of eastern DRC, particularly in Ituri Province, have complicated containment efforts. The region has witnessed large scale displacement, with more than 100,000 people forced to move since late 2025, increasing the risk of cross border spread.
In response to the outbreak, Uganda has postponed its annual Martyrs’ Day celebrations, an event that typically attracts millions of pilgrims, in an effort to limit large gatherings and reduce transmission risks.
The WHO said it had deployed emergency personnel, medical supplies and additional funding to support affected countries. The organisation has released an additional USD 3.4 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies, taking total support to USD 3.9 million.
The agency has also appealed to the international community to urgently increase support to contain the outbreak and prevent further loss of life.
According to the Africa CDC, the regional outbreak has so far recorded 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths as surveillance and investigations continue.Kenya on alert as Ebola crisis deepens in East Africa
