Kenya confirmed a single imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease on October 6 but the World Health Organization (WHO) is advising against travel restrictions and tourism bodies have stressed that this does not alter the risk profile for ordinary leisure travel.
The case involved a man who fell ill in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and travelled to Uganda before flying to Nairobi on October 3. From the airport, he was taken directly to Nairobi Hospital where he was isolated. He died on October 5.
The Kenyan Ministry of Health has identified 28 contacts of the patient, including family members and health workers. It is also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who travelled on the same flight. Quarantine arrangements are underway for people considered to be at risk.
The ministry has notified WHO in line with International Health Regulations. WHO has advised against imposing travel restrictions on Kenya, Uganda or the DRC based on information currently available.
Cabinet Secretary of Health Aden Duale said Kenya has maintained a heightened alert for Ebola since the outbreak in May.
Industry guidance
Virginia Messina, CEO of the African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA), said Kenya has been preparing extensively for this type of scenario and expressed confidence in the country’s experienced health authorities and the measures they have put in place to identify, isolate and respond to cases.
“The rapid identification and monitoring of contacts following this case demonstrates the importance of those preparedness measures. It is also important to remember that Ebola is not an airborne disease. It is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person.”
Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda remain open to international travellers, Messina pointed out.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and encourage travellers and the industry to follow the latest official health guidance. As ever, it is essential to respond to developments based on authoritative public health advice and the facts on the ground.”
ATTA ran a series of sessions earlier this year by Simon King to help the tourism industry manage client concerns about Ebola.
He said Ebola outbreaks should be viewed as a public health issue rather than a risk to leisure travellers.
“In 50 years of public records documenting Ebola outbreaks, there has never been a recorded case of a leisure traveller contracting Ebola during ordinary travel, lodge stays, wildlife viewing, conservation tourism or normal airport transit. Every documented case of an international contracting Ebola involved doctors, nurses, direct caregivers, burial teams, patient transporters, humanitarian responders or people working directly inside outbreak environments,” said King.
