Ebola could spread to Kenya, WHO warns

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that Ebola, a viral disease currently associated with West Africa, could be on its way to East Africa.

The warning came as the global health body classified Kenya as a “high-risk” country for the spread of the virus, hinging Kenya’s vulnerability on its status as a major transport hub with many flights from West Africa.

According to WHO country director for Kenya, Custodia Mandlhate, Kenya has been classified in group two, “at high risk of transmission”.

It is WHO’s most serious caution to date on the possibility of Ebola spread to East Africa.

That vulnerability might have been heightened by the decision of the Kenyan government not to ban flights from the four countries with Ebola cases, despite receiving more than 70 flights a week from West Africa.

“We do not recommend ban of flights because of porous borders,” health cabinet secretary James Macharia said.

Meanwhile, in Sierra Leone, goo, a doctor who treated patients infected with Ebola, has died.

Cole’s death brings to two, the number of Sierra Leonean doctors treating Ebola who have now died of the disease.

On July 29, Sheikh Umar Khan, the doctor spearheading the treatment of Ebola patients in the country died.

Ebola continues to general global attention, countries adopting different measures to prevent its spread.

While Germany has ordered all its citizens, except health workers, to leave Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, Guinea-Bissau has decided has announced the closure of its border with Guinea.

Ghana, on its part, has delayed the opening of universities and colleges by at least two weeks to put in place measures to screen students arriving from Ebola-hit countries.

Ebola deaths across West Africa have risen to 1,069, with Who saying 56 deaths and 128 new cases were reported in the region in the two days preceding 11 August.