Somalia screens travelers after Kenya confirms imported Ebola case

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia has begun screening travelers arriving from African countries after Kenya confirmed an imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease, Health Minister Dr. Ali Haji Adan said on Thursday.

Ali Haji said medical teams had been deployed to airports to monitor passengers arriving from African countries, particularly after the confirmed case in neighboring Kenya.

Somalia’s Ministry of Health urged the public to wash their hands frequently and avoid contact with the blood or bodily fluids of sick people.

The ministry also advised people with severe illness, especially those who recently traveled from areas affected by Ebola, to seek medical attention immediately.

Symptoms of Ebola can include fever, severe fatigue, muscle pain, headache, vomiting and diarrhea.

Kenya’s Ministry of Health confirmed its first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease in a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The patient traveled to Nairobi from Uganda on Oct. 3 and later died after testing positive, according to Kenyan health authorities.

Kenya has since strengthened surveillance at airports and border crossings, according to health authorities.

The case comes amid a major Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. More than 4,000 people have died in the outbreak, which has been driven by the Bundibugyo strain, according to recent reporting citing health officials.

The virus spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, including blood or vomit, or with contaminated materials.