Kenya Intensifies Ebola Border Screening As Duale Warns Of Regional Risk
Health Updated: 27 May 2026 15:11 EAT
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale when he Joined thousands of fellow Muslim faithful at the Sir Ali Muslim Club grounds in Nairobi for Eid-ul-Adha prayers, marking the Feast of Sacrifice.
Kenya has intensified surveillance and screening at all points of entry as the government steps up preparedness against Ebola following outbreaks in neighbouring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the situation remains a serious public health concern, noting that the government has activated emergency response measures across all border points and entry stations.
"Now we are dealing with the issue of Ebola. Ebola is a very critical emergency. It is happening in DRC Congo and Uganda. Over 200 people have so far lost their lives in DRC."
Duale said the Ministry of Health has deployed screening equipment and personnel at airports and border posts to ensure all incoming travellers are properly assessed.
"As a government, as a ministry, we have put all measures in place along our borders. We have put scanners at the airport. We are doing a very serious screening of all passengers entering our country."
He added that travellers from high-risk areas are being subjected to stricter checks, particularly those arriving from Uganda or transiting through affected regions.
"And more so those who are either coming from Uganda or were on transit through Kinshasa. Everybody will go under serious screening and verification."
The Cabinet Secretary said Kenya is also establishing isolation and holding areas at key border points to manage any suspected cases immediately.
"We are also putting up holding areas within the border in the event that we get a case. So the country is fully prepared for this Ebola."
Duale urged citizens to take personal responsibility by reporting any suspected cases, especially among individuals who have recently travelled to affected countries.
"I want to ask the citizens that they have a duty to protect themselves. If there is any of your relative who feels sick and has recently been to Uganda or DRC, please go to the nearest medical facility."
He noted that the government is conducting extensive contact tracing and monitoring of individuals who may have travelled through high-risk regions within the past month.
"We are doing a lot of traceability. Anybody we feel who has been to that region in the last one month, we are chasing them and making sure that we protect our country."
Duale warned that the current Ebola strain circulating in the region has no available vaccine, making prevention and surveillance the most critical tools.
"This particular virus, Ebola virus, this strain doesn't have a vaccine. So we have to be very, very careful."
He assured Kenyans that the national health system remains on high alert, with laboratories operating around the clock to test suspected samples.
"All our health systems are in top gear. Our laboratories, three of them are ready and working 24/7 to make sure they test for any specimen."
The government has also deployed mobile laboratories at key border points, including along the Kenya–Uganda and Kenya–South Sudan borders, to enhance rapid testing capacity.
"We also have one mobile laboratory at the border between Uganda and Kenya, and the border between South Sudan and Kenya."
Duale further said all ports of entry are fully staffed with trained health officers to ensure continuous screening and monitoring of passengers.
"All our ports of entries are all manned."
He reiterated that while Kenya remains Ebola-free, vigilance and cooperation from the public remain essential to preventing any possible outbreak in the country.
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FELIX MAKONA
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