The Ministry of Health has chosen Terminal 1A, Gate 16 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as the preferred entry gateway for travelers from Uganda and Tanzania, where Marburg, Mpox, and Ebola cases have been increasing.
This is one of the measures being taken by the Ministry to improve the country’s readiness and protection against the Marburg, Mpox, and Ebola outbreaks that have been recorded in neighboring countries.
The decision was issued by Health PS Mary Muthoni, who was visiting JKIA with WHO Country Representative Dr Abdourahmane Diallo.
Basnet Mukunda, Chief Migration Officer of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), was also in attendance at the Border Management Committee meeting to discuss disease surveillance and response.
“Kenya remains committed to protecting public health through proactive surveillance and emergency preparedness,” PS Muthoni said during the visit. “By working closely with global partners, we are strengthening our capacity to detect and respond to disease threats at our borders.”
According to the PS, the specified entry sites for tourists from these two countries are critical because Kenya is already dealing with the MPox disease and the region is dealing with the Marburg and Ebola outbreaks.
Furthermore, the Ministry is developing a multi-agency approach to implement Kenya’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan at all airport entry points.
The Ministry is stepping up border screening, rapid reaction procedures, and public awareness, which they define as critical to preventing disease importation and protecting public health.
Travelers from affected locations must fill out health declaration papers, and severe hand hygiene practices, such as handwashing and sanitization, are enforced.
Furthermore, Tanzanian travelers’ debarkation processes shall adhere to strict public health requirements to ensure their safety.
The action comes as the country’s Mpox case count has risen to 41, and viral hemorrhagic fevers have spread throughout East Africa.
Three additional Mpox cases were confirmed in Busia County, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in Kenya to 41 since the outbreak began.
So far, the sickness has affected 12 counties, with cases reported in Nakuru (10), Mombasa (8), Busia (7), Nairobi (2), Kajiado (2), Bungoma (2), Taita Taveta (2), Kericho (2), Makueni (2), Kilifi (2), Kiambu (1), and Uasin Gishu (1).
“So far, 419 samples from suspected cases have been tested at the National Public Health Laboratory and partner labs, with 41 returning positive results, 376 testing negative, and two still undergoing analysis,” the PS said in a statement.
