The United Kingdom has issued a fresh travel warning for Kenya following the confirmation of the country’s first imported case of Ebola, urging British citizens to reconsider non-essential travel and those already in the country to exercise caution.
The advisory, issued on Wednesday, October 7, comes as Kenyan health authorities intensify efforts to trace people who may have come into contact with the patient before his death.
British citizens who need to travel to Kenya for essential reasons have been advised to follow directions issued by the Kenyan government and keep themselves updated on developments surrounding the Ebola outbreak.
The UK government said Kenya had put several measures in place to prevent further spread of the disease. These include contact tracing, increased disease surveillance, screening at borders and quarantine arrangements for people considered to have been exposed to the virus.
“The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to parts of Kenya,” the advisory stated.
The warning also noted that travellers arriving in Kenya could face additional health screening. Particular attention could be placed on passengers arriving from Uganda, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where health authorities are also monitoring the spread of the disease.
The travel advisory comes days after Kenya confirmed its first imported case involving a 40-year-old Kenyan man who had spent about seven years living in the DRC.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said on Tuesday, October 6, that the man became ill about a month before returning to Kenya. During that period, he sought treatment at several hospitals in the DRC.
The man later travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala, Uganda, before taking a Jambojet flight to Nairobi on Saturday, October 3.
After arriving in Nairobi, he was taken to Nairobi Hospital, where he was isolated as his condition was assessed. His health later deteriorated, with symptoms including fever, fatigue and bleeding under the skin.
He died at about 11:30pm on Monday, October 5.
His movement across several locations before arriving in Kenya has raised the need for extensive contact tracing as health officials work to determine who may have been exposed to the virus.
The Ministry of Health has since stepped up its response, with officials identifying people who had contact with the deceased. Authorities are also working to trace passengers and crew members who travelled on the same Jambojet flight from Kampala to Nairobi.
The United Kingdom’s warning comes shortly after the United States Embassy in Nairobi issued its own health alert concerning the confirmed case.
The US Embassy urged American citizens who may have been exposed to the virus to closely monitor their health and seek medical advice if they develop symptoms associated with Ebola.
“The Government of Kenya reported a case of Bundibugyo virus disease (‘Ebola’) on October 6. Health officials are tracing the patient’s contacts,” the embassy stated.
Americans considered to be at risk of exposure were advised to inform their healthcare providers if they develop symptoms consistent with Ebola. They were also encouraged to seek medical guidance before going directly to a healthcare facility.
The two foreign advisories place additional attention on Kenya’s response as health officials continue efforts to prevent the imported case from developing into wider community transmission.
For travellers and foreign nationals already in the country, authorities are expected to rely heavily on surveillance, contact tracing and timely medical assessment as the government works to contain the disease.
