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Kenya Medical Association National Chairman Dr. Elly Nyaim addressing the press on Ebola outbreak Thursday at their office in Nairobi. (Photo: Govedi Asutsa/Standard)
Nairobi, Kenya: The Kenya Medical Association has called for quarantine of all passengers who fly in from West African in order to eliminate chances of the deadly Ebola virus coming to the country and wreaking havoc.
Speaking Thursday morning, KMA National Chairman Dr. Elly Nyaim said that the hundreds of passengers flying in should be isolated and monitored for at least 21 days which is the incubation period of the disease.
“We do not mean to be alarmists, but all steps must be taken to protect the country from the disease. The quarantine measure may be inconvenient to many people but it may be necessary to protect Kenyans from Ebola,” he said.
The incubation period is the time between infection and the time that person begins developing the symptoms of the disease. For Ebola, the incubation period is 2 to 21 days
“KMA has also expressed concern about the screening of passengers from West African countries saying it is not as rigorous as it should be. Dr. Nyaim termed it “too casual” saying some passengers are allowed to pass without intensive observations.
KMA Vice Chair Dr. Elizabeth Wala, who is an expert in infectious diseases, expressed dismay on the decision by Kenya Airways to continue flying in and out of West African countries, the epicenter of the latest Ebola outbreak.
“The top priority for Kenya is to take all the measures needed to prevent Ebola from getting into the country. Once it does, it would be a big challenge to control it. We call on Kenya Airways and other carriers to cease flights to that region until things stabilize.” she said.
KMA’s Head of Planning Committee Dr. Abdi Mohammed said that many airlines have suspended flights to West Africa and wondered why Kenya Airways is an exception.
“The national carrier should brief Kenyans and its international customers on the measures it is taking to eliminate risks of carrying the disease to Kenya and other countries,” he said.
According to WHO official information sheet on Ebola, the risk of a traveller becoming infected with Ebola virus during a visit to the affected areas and developing disease after returning is extremely low, even if the visit included travel to the local areas from which primary cases have been reported.
“Transmission requires direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected living or dead persons or animal, all of which are unlikely exposures for the average traveller. In any event, travelers are advised to avoid all such contacts.” it said.
On Tuesday, the World Health Organisation classified many African countries including Kenya as being in high-risk of Ebola transmission due to flights to and from West African countries.
Wednesday, Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said that screening for Ebola has been enhanced at JKIA and additional health workers have been posted in the facility, while an isolation ward is ready at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
On her part, World Health Organisation Country Representative Dr. Custodia Mandlhate commended Kenya for taking preventive steps to prevent Ebola from coming into Kenya.
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