Health officials in Wajir County have isolated a 20-year-old man suspected of having a viral haemorrhagic fever after he travelled through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda and several parts of Kenya.
The man, who works with a cargo truck, is a resident of Habaswein in Wajir South Subcounty. He reportedly arrived at his residence on September 20 after travelling through the different countries.
According to preliminary reports, he began experiencing symptoms while in the DRC on September 2 and sought medical treatment during his travels.
He was later taken to Albadar Nursing Home after his condition failed to improve following treatment at Hilac Medical Clinic.
Health officials said he presented with fever, headache and a cough. He was also found to have severe anaemia, with a haemoglobin level of 4g/dL.
The man had reportedly received treatment for pneumonia and septicaemia for about three days before being transferred to Albadar Nursing Home for further care.
Preliminary information indicates that he travelled by trailer through different countries, spending about five days in each before proceeding to Malaba. He then travelled through Nairobi and Isiolo before reaching Wajir.
Samples Taken for Laboratory Testing
Health authorities have reported the suspected case to the National Health Virology Laboratory, with sample collection already completed.
The specimen is expected to be transported for laboratory testing to establish the cause of the illness.
However, Ebola has not been confirmed in the man, and laboratory results are needed to determine whether he has the disease.
Viral haemorrhagic fevers are a group of illnesses that can cause severe disease and affect the body’s circulatory system. Ebola is one of the diseases in this group.
The suspected case comes as Kenya steps up surveillance following confirmation of its first imported Ebola case.
The Ministry of Health has intensified screening of travellers arriving from 10 countries in East and Central Africa: the DRC, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Angola, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Central African Republic.
The World Health Organization has also advised against closing borders, saying practical screening at designated entry points can be more effective than such restrictions.
On October 7, Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said health officials had identified 57 people who came into contact with Kenya’s first confirmed Ebola patient, with 10 placed in quarantine.
The number of contacts was expected to increase as officials continued tracing and monitoring people linked to the confirmed case.