The Ministry of Health has intensified surveillance across the country following a World Health Organization (WHO) alert on the Marburg Virus.
Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa urged the public to remain cautious, even though no cases of the virus have been reported in Kenya so far.
Barasa outlined the symptoms of Marburg, which include high fever, severe headaches, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and rashes.
“Avoid contact with confirmed or symptomatic individuals, wash hands frequently, use sanitizers, and avoid sharing personal items to prevent the spread,” she advised.
She also highlighted other symptoms such as difficulty swallowing and bleeding, urging those experiencing any of these signs to seek immediate medical attention.
Marburg is a virus from the Ebola family, known for causing hemorrhagic fever with a fatality rate of up to 88%, according to WHO.
The Ministry of Health confirmed it has heightened surveillance to quickly address any potential outbreak.
Meanwhile, two additional Mpox (monkeypox) cases have been reported, bringing the total to 12 so far. The government plans to allocate Ksh. 6.7 billion for an Mpox containment strategy, organized in a three-tier response system.
Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni revealed that a National Mpox Preparedness and Response Plan is in place to coordinate public health measures against a potential outbreak.
The Ministry will spend Ksh. 1.7 billion on local containment efforts, including community-based surveillance, training healthcare workers, providing PPE, enhancing screening, and setting up isolation spaces and case referrals.
