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- Aug 19, 2012
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Health authorities in Kericho County are on a red alert over a suspected case of Ebola.
This was after a patient exhibited suspected symptoms of the haemorrhagic fever at Kericho County Referral Hospital.
County officials on Monday said the woman had travelled from Malaba, on the border of Kenya and Uganda, to see her spouse.
The hitherto unidentified patient was admitted on Sunday and was immediately put in isolation.
“The county disease surveillance team immediately took over the matter and took all the necessary precautions to ensure that there was minimal contact between the patient and other persons at the hospital including the staff and the other hospital users,” the county government said in a statement.
“The county Department of Health Services is monitoring this potential case very closely and is working with the National Government to ensure that all essential procedures are followed to protect public health and safety.”
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UPDATE
A woman who was on Sunday evening put in isolation at the Kericho County Referral Hospital over a suspected case of Ebola infection has tested negative for the deadly disease.
The Ministry of Health, in a statement released Monday evening, added that tests conducted on the woman revealed that she was also negative for any Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers.
“The result of the tests carried out by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratories on the blood samples from the 36-year-old lady who is currently admitted in the isolation unit at the Kericho County Referral Hospital have been confirmed to be NEGATIVE for Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) and other Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers,” read the statement by Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki.
The CS further sought to reaffirm that “there is no case of Ebola in the country”, adding however that “we are prepared in terms of Ebola prevention and response measures and therefore there is no need for panic.”
The news comes as a relief as the country was thrown into a state of panic over a possible outbreak with health officials in neighboring counties such as Kisumu even setting up isolation wards.
The woman was traveling to Nairobi from Malaba at the border between Kenya and the neighbouring Uganda, where a number of Ebola related deaths have been reported.
This was after a patient exhibited suspected symptoms of the haemorrhagic fever at Kericho County Referral Hospital.
County officials on Monday said the woman had travelled from Malaba, on the border of Kenya and Uganda, to see her spouse.
The hitherto unidentified patient was admitted on Sunday and was immediately put in isolation.
“The county disease surveillance team immediately took over the matter and took all the necessary precautions to ensure that there was minimal contact between the patient and other persons at the hospital including the staff and the other hospital users,” the county government said in a statement.
“The county Department of Health Services is monitoring this potential case very closely and is working with the National Government to ensure that all essential procedures are followed to protect public health and safety.”
====
UPDATE
A woman who was on Sunday evening put in isolation at the Kericho County Referral Hospital over a suspected case of Ebola infection has tested negative for the deadly disease.
The Ministry of Health, in a statement released Monday evening, added that tests conducted on the woman revealed that she was also negative for any Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers.
“The result of the tests carried out by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratories on the blood samples from the 36-year-old lady who is currently admitted in the isolation unit at the Kericho County Referral Hospital have been confirmed to be NEGATIVE for Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) and other Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers,” read the statement by Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki.
The CS further sought to reaffirm that “there is no case of Ebola in the country”, adding however that “we are prepared in terms of Ebola prevention and response measures and therefore there is no need for panic.”
The news comes as a relief as the country was thrown into a state of panic over a possible outbreak with health officials in neighboring counties such as Kisumu even setting up isolation wards.
The woman was traveling to Nairobi from Malaba at the border between Kenya and the neighbouring Uganda, where a number of Ebola related deaths have been reported.
