Somalia is strengthening Ebola surveillance and emergency preparedness after Kenya confirmed its first case of the disease in Nairobi.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report)— Somalia is stepping up preparations to prevent the spread of Ebola after Kenya confirmed its first case of the disease in the capital Nairobi, the Somali Health Ministry said.
The ministry said no Ebola cases have so far been confirmed in Somalia, but authorities were taking precautionary measures in response to the outbreak in East Africa and increased movement of people between countries in the region.
Kenya’s confirmed case involved a Kenyan national who had lived for some time in the Democratic Republic of Congo and had travelled through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi on October 3, according to the Somali ministry.
The patient was later confirmed to have the Bundibugyo virus, one of the viruses that causes Ebola disease, and died while being transported for medical care, the ministry said.
Somalia is now strengthening disease surveillance and early detection systems for suspected cases, while preparing emergency response teams, laboratories and testing procedures, as well as measures aimed at preventing further transmission.
The Health Ministry said particular attention was being given to points of entry into the country, including the sharing of health information across borders and preparations for quarantine facilities and referral systems for suspected patients.
The measures come as countries across East Africa remain alert to the risk of cross-border transmission, particularly because of extensive travel and trade links between Somalia, Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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Somali health authorities urged the public to remain calm but vigilant, warning people to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms associated with Ebola, particularly after recent travel to an affected area or contact with a suspected case.
Symptoms can include sudden fever, severe fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and unexplained bleeding, the ministry said.
It added that symptoms can develop between two and 21 days after exposure to the virus, and advised anyone experiencing severe symptoms to seek medical care promptly.
Ebola disease is a severe illness caused by viruses in the Orthoebolavirus genus. Different Ebola viruses can cause outbreaks with varying levels of severity, while Bundibugyo virus is one of the species known to cause Ebola disease in humans.
Somalia’s government said it would continue to closely monitor developments in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the wider region, while regularly assessing the risk posed by the disease and measures needed to prevent it from entering the country.
The government’s preparedness efforts focus on early detection and rapid response, which health authorities consider critical to limiting the spread of infectious diseases when suspected cases emerge.
Somalia has not reported a confirmed Ebola case in the current situation, but officials said the country’s surveillance and preparedness measures would remain under review as the regional health situation develops.
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Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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