The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale says Kenya could be declared Ebola-free after recording 42 consecutive days without a new case, provided the remaining patients recover and the country meets the World Health Organization (WHO) requirements.
Speaking during Citizen TV’s Sunday Live programme, Duale explained that the 42-day period is an international standard rather than a deadline established by the Kenyan government.
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He said health authorities were closely monitoring people who had come into contact with confirmed patients, with those completing the initial 21-day quarantine period undergoing final tests before being cleared to return home.
“Once we have 42 days and we have nobody, Kenya will be declared Ebola-free,” Duale said.
The CS noted that Ebola has an incubation period of between two and 21 days, making the initial monitoring period essential in identifying individuals who may develop symptoms following exposure.
According to Duale, people who have completed the 21-day monitoring period are being tested, and their results will inform decisions on whether they can be released from quarantine.
He said the Director General of Health would review the results and complete the required clinical assessments and protocols before clearing those who test negative.
Contact tracing and testing
Duale said Kenya had traced all identified contacts linked to the outbreak, achieving a 100 per cent contact-tracing rate against the global benchmark of 85 per cent.
He reported that seven positive cases had been recorded, involving family members and healthcare workers who had direct contact with the initial patient.
The CS said the confirmed cases had been identified among people already in quarantine, rather than through new transmission in the wider community.
Health authorities have also continued testing people presenting with suspected symptoms, including patients whose illnesses initially appeared similar to malaria.
Duale revealed that nearly 551 people had been tested in the 48 hours preceding the interview, with all the samples returning negative results.
He added that the last positive case was recorded on October 19, making continued negative results and the recovery of the remaining patients important factors in determining when Kenya could qualify for an Ebola-free declaration.
Kenya’s preparedness measures
The Health CS said the government had strengthened its preparedness to contain the outbreak, with more than 26 high-risk counties equipped with response materials and personal protective equipment.
He reported that the country had 21 isolation intensive care unit beds and had trained 4,900 healthcare workers to respond to Ebola cases.
Kenya also had 342 first responders and five laboratory facilities, including two mobile laboratories, according to Duale.
He explained that the mobile laboratories would enable samples from patients in isolation facilities to be tested without transporting them to general hospital laboratories, helping to improve the efficiency of the response.
Duale expressed gratitude to the World Health Organization and the United States government for supporting Kenya’s efforts to control the outbreak. He specifically acknowledged the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US Embassy and the State Department.
Duale addresses healthcare workers’ concerns
During the interview, Duale also responded to concerns over healthcare workers’ access to protective equipment.
He disputed claims that the main concern related to the availability of protective gear, saying the issue raised had centred on the representation of healthcare workers on the multi-sectoral task force coordinating the response.
The CS said representatives of clinicians and nurses had since been included in the task force, adding that safeguarding healthcare workers remained a priority in containing the outbreak.
Kenya’s ability to meet the 42-day requirement without recording a new case will be a key factor in determining when the country can be officially declared Ebola-free, subject to the applicable WHO protocols.
