Kenyais rushing to contain Ebola linked to the deadliest outbreak on record in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) . The East African nation has reported two cases and one death, while the DRC has reported over 9,000 cases and 4,400 deaths. Kenya's first Ebola patient died at Nairobi hospital on October 5.
The 40-year-old Kenyan had traveled by road from the DRC to Uganda before boarding a flight to Nairobi in Entebbe on October 3. One of his relatives is now confirmed to have contracted the virus. The 39-year-old was under quarantine when he developed symptoms on October 13.
"Both cases are linked, and there is no evidence of spread in the wider community," Kenya's health ministry said. Contact tracing has been ongoing since officials first detected the case. Of the 128 people who came into contact with the first Ebola patient, 113 have been identified, according to the health ministry.
All, except five—who are in unspecified countries abroad—have been quarantined. Public anxiety is rising, with fears of lockdowns and economic disruption and skepticism about government readiness. "It's a very dangerous disease, so it's very shocking," a Nairobi resident told DW.
Another citizen said he was disappointed: "The government has been caught unaware. It appears to me that the government was not prepared, especially at the entry point of this particular person who was found to be suffering from Ebola." One woman said she felt there was a lack of public information on the disease. "The government should do more in educating and sensitizing about it, and raising awareness," she said.
Kenya's Health Ministry, through its Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, has been seeking to allay fears, urging Kenyans to remain vigilant and encouraging anyone who develops symptoms to report to the nearest medical facility. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), symptoms can develop between 2 and 21 days after infection. Early symptoms include: fever, fatigue, malaise, muscle pain, headache and sore throat.
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