Kenya Directs Arrivals From Ten African Nations to JKIA Gate 16 for Ebola Screening

Kenya has assigned Gate 16 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for all passengers arriving from ten African states identified as having a higher risk of Ebola transmission, following the detection of an imported case.

The designated countries are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Angola, Zambia, Tanzania and the Central African Republic.

Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said the step forms part of enhanced surveillance and screening at the nation’s main international gateway after touring the airport to assess readiness.

Muthoni explained that travellers from the listed nations will be required to pass through Gate 16 for health checks and added that Kenya is also considering exit screening, stating, “We may also introduce the exit screening just to be sure that wherever you’re going you’re not exporting the virus or the Ebola virus.”

She urged passengers to complete the online health declaration before landing to ease congestion, saying, “Fill in the online form even before you land so that by the time you land this also will reduce the crowding that we might be having at the airport.”

Muthoni clarified that Kenya has not declared an Ebola outbreak, describing the situation as an imported case involving a Kenyan who travelled about 3,000 kilometres before arriving, and noted that the Ministry of Health is tracing fifty-seven contacts while more than 4,000 healthcare workers have been trained in Ebola preparedness.

The principal secretary called on the public to maintain high hygiene standards, avoid unnecessary handshakes and hugs, and reminded travellers that Ebola is not spread through aerosols, urging them to sanitise or wash hands after touching surfaces, and added, “Make sure you go through the screening and we are very keen because we’ve been very keen on the inbound flights.”

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced that aircraft and passengers from the ten countries will be directed to Gate 16 where port health officers and scanning equipment have been deployed, stating, “Screening for our travellers from the Ebola disease epicentre countries has been enhanced at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Gate 16.”

Duale said health officers at the gate will assist passengers in completing the health declaration form, noting, “Any aircraft coming into JKIA from these 10 countries will go to Gate Number 16, where our Port Health personnel will be there, where our scanning facilities have been placed, where the declaration form.”

He added that the government is expanding preparedness by mobilising public, private and faith-based facilities and has earmarked five temporary isolation centres near the Uganda border – Malaba Health Centre, Busia Border, Kocholia and a district hospital in Busia County undergoing renovations – with work expected to finish within ten to fourteen days.

Duale also mentioned collaboration with the Digital Health Agency and telecom companies to upgrade the 719 toll-free system and cautioned citizens against overloading the service.

Africa CDC Head of Emergency Response Teams Dr Wessam Mankoula praised Kenya’s swift response, saying, “We are welcoming the quick action that done by the country in terms of tracking this case, the history of this case since its movement from DRC Uganda till arriving to the country,” and stressed the importance of preventing further spread, adding, “This is the most important point at this stage, to prevent further spread of this imported case.”

He urged anyone who may have been in contact with the patient to contact the Ministry of Health so that appropriate measures can be taken.