Bungoma on high alert over Ebola

Bungoma, Kenya: Bungoma's ministry of health is on high alert following fears of the spread of Ebola, the County Executive for Health and Sanitation Grace Khayota has said.

Ms Khayota said health officials from the region are not taking chances considering that the county shares a border with Uganda (Though spared this time round, Uganda has had about five Ebola outbreaks since 2000. Before the epidemic in West Africa, the worst outbreak was recorded in Uganda in 2000).

"Among the interventions and special measures we have put in place is setting up an isolation ward at the Bungoma County Referral Hospital and another at Lwakhakha Dispensary that is at the border of Kenya and Uganda. We have put the special measures just in case anyone with the highly contagious virus enters the country. We do not want to be caught unawares," she said.

Speaking in Bungoma town on Saturday, Khayota said the county expects to receive special kits from Nairobi this week that will be worn by health practitioners in the two health facilities.