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- May 11, 2013
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Passengers arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport get scanned for the coronavirus
Kenya has set up two new facilities in readiness to test for the Novel Coronavirus.
Until Tuesday, February 11, all samples obtained from individuals suspected to carry the virus were sent to South Africa.
Acting Director-General of Health Patrick Amoth revealed on Tuesday, February 12, that laboratories under the National Influenza Centre, hosted at the National Public Health Laboratories and Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri), will begin testing samples immediately.
During an interview with the Daily Nation on Wednesday, Amoth said that the kits were well received on Sunday and testing for the new coronavirus would begin.
China Southern Airlines taking off from an airport
In response to the coronavirus outbreak, there has been a rush to establish diagnostic capabilities in different countries, particularly in developing countries.
Dr Ahmed Kalebi, pathologist and CEO of Lancet Kenya said testing for the pathogen is a complex affair, saying testing kits have to be newly developed and confirmed to be operational.
With the new kits now available, testing is now expected to take 24 hours.
A week ago, only two laboratories in Africa, namely South Africa and Senegal, could diagnose the virus. As of Sunday, WHO expected every African country to be able to diagnose the virus.
Source: Kenyans.co.ke