Kenya's Ministry of Health criticises Saudi Arabia's Ebola measures, saying the outbreak remains contained within one cluster with no community transmission.
The Ministry of Health has strongly criticised Saudi Arabia over measures taken in response to Kenya’s Ebola outbreak, describing them as excessive and unsupported by the prevailing health situation.
In a statement signed by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, the ministry maintained that Kenya had contained the outbreak within a single cluster and had not recorded any evidence of community transmission.
The ministry said the index case was imported and that health authorities had successfully traced all 135 people who came into contact with the patient.
Of these, 118 were placed under quarantine, while all eight confirmed cases were linked to the initial patient. Four were healthcare workers and the other four were close family members.
The ministry added that no new Ebola case had been reported since October 19, while five of the seven patients still receiving treatment had returned an initial negative test after completing treatment.
The remaining patients were said to be progressing well, with a second round of testing scheduled for Monday, November 2.
The ministry expressed optimism that the five patients who had tested negative would be cleared to leave hospital on Tuesday, November 3, alongside 46 contacts who had completed quarantine without developing symptoms.
This would bring the number of contacts released from quarantine to 66, including 20 who had already been discharged.
Kenya has recorded two deaths linked to the outbreak, including the index patient, while seven patients remained under medical care as of the statement.
The ministry said the progress demonstrated that the country's response was working and urged Kenyans to remain united as health authorities continued managing the outbreak.
The Ministry of Health said the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs would continue engaging Saudi Arabia over the measures imposed.
It called on international partners to support Kenya's response instead of imposing restrictions that could isolate the country.
The ministry thanked Kenyans for their cooperation, expressing confidence that the country would overcome the outbreak.
Harry Ivan Mboto (Current affairs editor) Harry Ivan Mboto is an accredited journalist with the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and a Current Affairs and Politics Editor at TUKO.co.ke. He is a Linguistics, Media, and Communication student at Moi University and has five years of experience in digital journalism. Have a news tip, query, or feedback? Reach him at: harry.ivan@tuko.co.ke.
