Kenya’s Ministry of Health has sent a yellow fever alert to points of entry to Kenya, hospitals and counties following the death of a 31-year-old man at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
The man said to have arrived to the country from Angola last Saturday had initially been examined by a clinician in Eastleigh, Nairobi who found he had a fever, joint pains and blood-stained stool. The clinician referred him to Kenyatta National Hospital after his condition deteriorated.
KEMRI said in a statement to newsrooms today that its laboratory tests showed samples were positive for yellow fever. Health CS Cleopa Mailu said there was no evidence of transmission of the disease from the index case to any member of the public.
He said people coming from or through countries at risk of yellow fever are being screened as part of preparedness and response measures.
Mailu said an eight-bed isolation unit has been set up at KNH and a holding room at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, for assessing high risk cases.
He asked the public to be vigilant and contact the Disease Surveillance and Epidemic response Unit via phone numbers 0729 471414 or 0732 353535.
