The Ministry of Health on Friday, January 31, issued a health advisory to Kenyans amidst an Ebola outbreak in Uganda that has already claimed one casualty.

“The Ministry of Health’s attention has been drawn to a press statement by Uganda's Ministry of Health that was released on January 30, 2025, confirming an outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease in Kampala, Uganda,” the statement read in part.

In that regard, CS Deborah Barasa’s ministry advised Kenyans to avoid contact with live and dead wild animals, including meat, faeces, and body fluids, as well as unprotected sexual activities. Ebola can be easily transmitted through animals and animal products. 

Ebola virus disease (EBV) is a highly virulent and often fatal disease that can be easily transmitted after close contact with both Ebola virus-infected humans or animals and animal products.

Kenya-Uganda border crossing post in Busia County.

Photo

Ministry of Interior

The disease spreads amongst people via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes), blood, secretions, organs, or other body fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials such as bedding and clothing contaminated with the virus.

Signs and symptoms of Ebola often begin abruptly and are characterised by fever, headache, diarrhoea, vomiting, and body malaise. Hemorrhagic manifestations (bleeding tendencies from openings in the body that allow access to an internal cavity) of the disease appear in the later stages of the disease. 

The ministry urged Kenyans to immediately visit their nearest health facilities in the event they experienced symptoms of the deadly disease that reportedly has a fatality rate of 90 per cent. The ministry stated that this would be critical in ensuring the protection of oneself, their family, and the community as a whole.

Further, the ministry strongly cautioned against the treatment of patients at home, stressing the need to get urgent medical care from qualified health facilities and professionals.

The ministry added that visiting a health facility would ensure anyone experiencing symptoms of Ebola would be able to be provided with the necessary support and healthcare required. 

Additionally, the ministry noted the importance of seeking medical care promptly once diagnosed to ensure one’s survival and limit the risk of transmission of the highly viral disease. 

The ministry informed that persons who have been in close contact with an Ebola patient would be identified as contacts by public health authorities. Further, the contacts would have their health monitored for 21 days to allow for early detection of the disease and early access to care in the event they get the disease.

Moreover, Kenyans were urged to follow and apply advice from health professionals and advisories to protect themselves and their loved ones from the disease.

If one contracts and succumbs to the disease, the ministry noted that they should receive a safe and dignified burial. Notably, the ministry warned against touching or washing the body of one who has passed on due to Ebola.

To that effect, the ministry informed that burial teams had already received the requisite training and would be deployed to facilitate safe burials of persons who succumb to the disease. However, rituals that involve touching, washing, or kissing the body would be prohibited.

Ebola was first identified in 1976 after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since then, these viruses have emerged periodically from the unknown animal that carries them and infected people in several African countries.

One of the deadliest Ebola outbreaks in Africa happened in late 2013 but was only confirmed months later in 2014. It spread from Guinea to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Senegal, and Nigeria. After over two years, the outbreak had resulted in 28,652 cases and 11,325 casualties. Out of those, five percent (518) were health workers. 

An image of medics engaging in Ebola screening in DRC in April 2022.

World Health Organisation