Jambojet has confirmed it is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities to support the ongoing public health response following the identification of Kenya's first Ebola case. The airline said it was working to identify and manage passengers and crew who were on the same flight as the individual who tested positive for Ebola on Saturday, October 3, from Entebbe to Nairobi.
The Kenya Red Cross Society has urged Kenyans to remain vigilant but not panic, saying it is prepared to support the national response. Secretary General Ahmed Idris stated that the organisation had been monitoring the regional Ebola situation and strengthening its preparedness. The society has deployed teams, including safe and dignified burial teams, community engagement teams, and community-based surveillance volunteers, to support the national response.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed Kenya's first Ebola case on October 6, stating that the infection had been imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The patient, a Kenyan citizen who had lived in the DRC for seven years, tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. He died at Nairobi Hospital on Monday, October 5, after arriving in Kenya on October 3.
The Kenya Red Cross Society is working closely with health officials at points of entry to screen and implement infection prevention measures. The society is also sharing information with communities and reporting alerts through established channels. People experiencing symptoms such as sudden fever, weakness, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding, particularly after recent travel or contact with a sick person, are urged to seek medical care immediately.
Jambojet's efforts to support the Ministry of Health are focused on mapping and managing passengers and crew who were on the same flight as the individual who tested positive for Ebola. The airline is working closely with the Ministry of Health, Port Health Service, and other relevant authorities to support the ongoing public health response.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed support for Kenya, DRC, and Uganda in their Ebola response efforts. Kenya's preparedness and response measures have been put to the test with the confirmation of the first Ebola case, and the government has reassured the public that it is working to contain the spread of the virus.
Key points
- Jambojet is working with the Ministry of Health to identify and manage passengers and crew who may have come into contact with a passenger who died from Ebola.
- The Kenya Red Cross Society has deployed teams to support the national response, including safe and dignified burial teams and community engagement teams.
- The patient who tested positive for Ebola was a Kenyan citizen who had lived in the DRC for seven years and died at Nairobi Hospital on October 5.
