Questions have emerged over how Kenya’s first confirmed Ebola patient passed health screening at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The patient later travelled to Nairobi Hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with Ebola.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s The Explainer, Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth said the patient went through the normal airport screening process.
However, Amoth said the patient may have taken medication that lowered his body temperature. This could have hidden some symptoms during screening.
Patient travelled from DRC through Uganda
Amoth said the patient travelled from northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Entebbe before flying to Nairobi.
“So far, we have screened more than 650,000 travellers from our 15 designated points of entry,” Amoth said.
He explained that health officials used an automatic thermal scanner to screen the patient at JKIA.
“We postulate that this patient took some medication to be able to mask some of his symptoms, including lowering his temperature and therefore could pass through,” he said.
According to Amoth, authorities believe this may explain how the patient left the airport without raising an alert.
He then contacted a relative, who took him directly to Nairobi Hospital.
Amoth stressed that the claim remains a hypothesis.
Health ministry urges truthful declarations
Kenya’s screening process also depends on information that travellers provide.
Passengers must give details about their travel history and any symptoms they may have.
Therefore, Amoth urged travellers to provide accurate information on surveillance forms.
He said health officials use the information to identify sick people early and offer them help.
“If we ask whether you’ve travelled to a particular place and you’ve done so, please indicate. It is not a punitive measure, it is to protect your health,” Amoth said.
He also urged travellers to report any symptoms listed on the surveillance form.
Patient had lived in DRC for seven years
The patient was a Kenyan citizen who had lived in the DRC for seven years.
He arrived in Kenya on October 3 after travelling by road from the DRC to Kampala.
From Kampala, he boarded Jambojet flight 8523 to Nairobi.
At JKIA, health officials conducted the normal public health screening before a relative picked him up.
The patient then went to Nairobi Hospital for medical attention.
Reports indicate that he had been unwell for about a month. During that period, he received treatment at several hospitals in the DRC.
Patient dies after Ebola diagnosis
Doctors at Nairobi Hospital isolated the patient after he developed several symptoms.
These included fever, extreme fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing and a sore throat.
He also developed bleeding under the skin at an injection site.
Medical tests later confirmed that he had Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease.
Despite receiving supportive treatment, the patient died on Monday at 11:30 pm.
Bundibugyo strain has no vaccine
Amoth said Bundibugyo is one of three Ebola virus species known to cause major outbreaks.
The other two are the Zaire and Sudan strains.
Unlike the Zaire strain, Bundibugyo currently has no vaccine or specific treatment.
As a result, doctors mainly rely on supportive care when treating patients.
However, Amoth said early reporting can improve a patient’s chances of survival.
He urged anyone who develops symptoms or believes they may have faced exposure to Ebola to call the toll-free 719 hotline.
“The best thing to do is to call our line, 719, toll-free number, and our team will be able to pick you up wherever you are,” he said.
Amoth warns against public transport
Amoth also warned people against using public or private transport when seeking help for suspected Ebola symptoms.
He said travelling in taxis, matatus or private cars could expose other people to the virus.
“It is unsafe to be able to get into a taxi because of the risk of exposure. It is unsafe to get into a matatu or to be driven by a relative because of the potential for exposure,” he said.
Instead, he advised suspected patients to contact health officials through the 719 hotline.
Authorities trace Ebola contacts
The Ministry of Health has identified 28 people who had contact with the deceased patient.
Health officials are also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who travelled on the same flight.
The incubation period for Ebola ranges from two to 21 days.
According to Amoth, most infected people develop symptoms within the first four to five days after exposure.
Importantly, Ebola transmission occurs after symptoms develop.
Survivors need support after recovery
Amoth also advised women infected with Ebola not to breastfeed because of the risk of transmission.
Meanwhile, he called for Ebola survivors to receive support and dignity when they return to their communities.
People who remain free of symptoms for 21 days can receive clearance, he said.
For male survivors, health officials conduct monthly semen tests. They require two consecutive negative results before advising survivors to resume normal sexual relations.
