Ebola threat rises within EAC: Is Kenya set to handle possible spillover?

Kenya is on alert over a possible Ebola spillover amid regional outbreaks and increased cross-border movement. [File Courtesy]

Travel and business ties between Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where an Ebola outbreak has been confirmed, raise the risk of the disease spreading into Kenya.

Experts warn that Kenya’s porous borders increase the likelihood of imported cases, even though no Ebola case has been reported in the country so far.

Prof Julius Oyugi, a virologist (specialist in viruses), told The Standard that the viral disease is spread through contact with infected fluids and without proper measures, someone can travel from Uganda to Kenya and transmit the disease to individuals in the country.

“There is a risk of Ebola in Kenya because of travelling,” warned Oyugi.

The sentiments were echoed by Dr Moses Masika, who said an outbreak in DRC and Uganda is a public health concern to Kenya.

“Kenya has raised its Ebola preparedness status after Uganda confirmed two cases of Ebola Virus Disease, both involving travellers from the DRC, as demonstrated when the Ministry of Health issued a public health advisory on 18 May 2026,” said Dr Masika, a virologist.

According to Masika, Kenya is heavily connected with East Africa's transport corridors, migration patterns, trade networks and healthcare systems.

With this, thousands of people move across East African borders daily through trade, employment, tourism, family visits and transport networks. Long-distance truck drivers connect Mombasa to Kampala, Kigali, Juba and eastern Congo.

“Although Kenya has confirmed it has not reported any Ebola virus cases linked to the current outbreak, given its close regional connectivity, the government has activated enhanced surveillance and preparedness measures across the country,” said the virologist.

Additionally, Prof Oyugi warned that by virtue of Kenya not having reported any case of Ebola in the past, the Bundibugyo strain circulating in Uganda and DRC has not been in a human being for a long time, raising risks of a spill of a case in the country.

The researcher explained that there are at least five strains of Ebola, with common ones being Ebola Zaire and Ebola Sudan.

The Bundibugyo was first discovered in 2007 in Uganda, when individuals presented with symptoms similar to Ebola.

When samples were tested, they found that they belonged to the Ebola variant.

The variant was further reported in DRC in 2012, and since then, the strain has been silent.

“There is a reason for alarm about Ebola in Kenya. The current strain kills between 30 and 50 per cent of those it infects. It is very lethal,” warned Oyugi.

According to Oyugi, because of the lack of a single reported case in Kenya, there has been laxity in the training of healthcare workers to handle the disease.

This is despite the first victims of the viral disease being healthcare providers.

“I am worried about healthcare workers at the frontline in managing the disease. There is laxity in training our healthcare workers in managing the disease.

We may need to enhance training on viral haemorrhagic fevers like Ebola, Marburg, and Dengue Fever, which keep recurring all the time. We have never had a case in Kenya; there is a likelihood it may spill to the country,” said Oyugi.

If infected, the providers he warned are likely to suffer deaths.

“We do not have vaccines globally for the current circulating strain of Ebola. It is also not treatable,” added Oyugi.

Individuals who contract the disease are isolated, according to the researcher.

Other than isolation, health workers manage symptoms of infected individuals like fever, muscle pain, diarrhoea and vomiting because of a lack of anti-viral drugs.

Ebola Zaire, he said, has a vaccine because it has been occurring many times, while the development of a vaccine for Ebola Sudan is ongoing.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed 51 cases in the Northern province of Ituri and North Kivu in DRC, and two additional cases in Uganda.

Individuals in Uganda have a history of having travelled from the DRC.

An American national working in DRC also contracted the disease and has since been transferred to Germany after he was confirmed positive.

Beyond confirmed cases, there are 600 suspected cases and 139 deaths.

The cases are likely to spike, according to WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“We expect the numbers to increase, given the time the virus has been spreading from when the outbreak was detected,” Dr Tedros told journalists in Geneva.

The epidemic, he said, has expanded with cases reported in several urban areas, with deaths reported among healthcare workers, indicating the transfer of transmission.

However, containing the disease, according to the WHO boss, hinders significant population movement in the affected area.

The province of Ituri is reported to be highly insecure, with fighting having escalated over the past two months, where at least 100,000 people have been displaced.

Even as the cases rise, Tedros maintained that there are no approved vaccines or therapeutics for the current strain of Ebola.

“WHO is mobilising an international response,” said Tedros.

Ebola was declared an emergency of public concern by the WHO on May 16, 2026.

The disease presents with fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhoea, stomach pain, and, in later stages, unexplained bleeding or bruising.

Masika explained that Ebola's early symptoms are symptoms seen in hospitals daily, and distinguishing Ebola from other illnesses, such as malaria or typhoid, in these early stages may not be straightforward.

He said individuals need to be highly conscious of exposure, especially in persons who have travelled to DRC, Uganda, or have contact with someone from those areas.

“If you or anyone you know has recently travelled from DRC or Uganda and develops these symptoms, seek care immediately and inform the healthcare worker of the travel history,” said Masika, warning of self-medication.

 Since time immemorial, Ebola has been domiciled in DRC.

This, according to Dr Robert Rono, an epidemiologist, is because of the conducive environment in DRC.

DRC, for instance, has close interaction between humans and Ebola-causing bats.

“Bats are highly found in forests, and in DRC, people live closely, or in the forest, an issue that risks the outbreak of Ebola,” said Rono.

The source of Ebola, he explained, is bats, which jump to humans, with humans transmitting to each other through fluids.

 “Humans acquire Ebola through secretions, or fluids like the blood of an infected individual. Healthcare workers are also likely to acquire the disease while treating patients,” explained Rono.

People in DRC, he added, also feed on game meat, which, if not well-cooked, a move that risk acquiring the disease.

Additionally, he said most localities in DRC are remote with minimum infrastructure, poor health services, poor road network, low education and high insecurity, an issue that makes it hard to contain the disease.

However, Rono remained optimistic that the disease would be contained and not spill to Kenya, as more measures have been put in place by the government, as witnessed during previous outbreaks.

MSF has been working in managing Ebola, closely working with the WHO, Africa CDC and other ministries of health to contain the disease.

According to MSF Medical Director, Dr Kalyan Velivela, among the measures put in place to avert a spill of the disease is surveillance and contact tracing.

Other measures include community engagement and health promotion.

 He said the PCR test is done to confirm cases.

He remained optimistic that the cases would be contained in DCR, because the government has a lot of experience in managing Ebola.

Among the prevention measures advised by MSF are handwashing and consuming properly cooked meat. Individuals presenting with Ebola-related symptoms are also encouraged to visit hospitals for diagnostic and management.

“There is no cause for alarm; we should not panic or alarm. Respective government and ministries are ensuring measures and the right information is passed to the people and scaling up on treatment measures,” said the official.

According to Oyugi, among measures to be put in place include strong surveillance at the Kenya-Uganda border and airports.

Individuals travelling from DRC and Uganda, where the disease is domiciled, should also be screened before being allowed entry.

Other measures, he said, include community awareness on Ebola along the border.

Awareness, he said, will help in early detection of the disease for easier management, and help individuals presenting with symptoms get to the nearest hospitals for screening and management.

Healthcare providers should also be provided with adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for safety, and hospitals should be provided with diagnostic tools.

“Currently, any suspected patient must be isolated; they cannot be mixed with other patients within health facilities. Healthcare workers must be knowledgeable about handling such patients, so there is potential for transmission,” emphasised Oyugi.

But the ministry has allayed fears among Kenyans, noting proper measures have been put in place to avert the disease.

In a statement, Health CS Aden Duale said the country has significantly intensified national preparedness measures aimed at preventing importation of the disease, ensuring rapid detection, and mounting a coordinated response should any case be identified in the country.

“Given Kenya’s close regional connectivity through road, air, trade, and population movement, the Government has activated enhanced surveillance and preparedness measures across the country,” said Duale.

Additionally, he said the government has intensified screening and surveillance at all points of entry, including airports, seaports, and land border crossings.

“As of May 18, 2026, more than 34, 500 travellers, including 18, 552 international, 5, 848 local, 2, 514 truck drivers, and 4, 729 conveyances, but enhanced risk-based screening and monitoring measures are in place in line with international Health Regulations and WHO guidance,” said the CS. 

Other preparedness measures include deployment of an online passenger surveillance system, population mobility mapping in high-risk border regions, enhanced airport surveillance through the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, and strengthened cross-border coordination with Uganda, DRC, WHO, the East African Community, and Africa CDC. 

Further, there is enhanced laboratory preparedness and diagnostic capacity through designated testing facilities at KEMRI Kisumu, KEMRI Nairobi, the National Public Health laboratory and mobile laboratory platforms.

At the same time, Duale directed counties to maintain dedicated sample transport arrangements for rapid testing and response.

But even as the Ministry of Health assure Kenyans of intensified surveillance at the borders, Kenyan border points remain porous. 

A spot check by The Standard at the Busia border revealed that screening is limited to only individuals travelling in public means like buses. The buses mainly ply DRC, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

Individuals who use buses are stopped at the erected public health tent. Here, their travel and health history is taken.

Screening entails checking body temperatures, including checking for symptoms of Ebola. Those with fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness and fatigue and referred for further medical tests.

On the contrary, truck drivers coming from neighbouring countries like the DRC and Uganda do not undergo any checks.

But individuals who walk across the border to Uganda and back to Kenya are not screened.

This has generated numerous complaints and concerns among locals and leaders who want stringent measures to be put at the border.

Bishop George Odhiambo of Joe Evangelist Ministries said the lack of strict checks is likely to spill cases in Kenya.

Odhiambo told The Standard that it is also worrying that locals lack information on how the disease is spread and preventive measures.

“County government with national government should collaborate to set up measures to screen every individual,” said Odhimbo.

The clergy further urged health experts, including the Ministry of Health, to educate religious leaders on the disease, including sensitisation in churches.

“The public remains reckless about Ebola because they do not know how dangerous it is. We need vibrant education and sensitisation in churches in communities,” said the clergy.