Kericho Woman Presents Ebola-Like Hemorrhagic Fever

County Health officials in Kericho are on alert over a case of suspected Ebola after a patient admitted at Kericho County Referral Hospital exhibited symptoms such as hemorrhagic fever which is observed among patients with Ebola.

The female patient, according to Kericho County officials, is said to have travelled from Malaba, which is the border of Uganda and Kenya, where she had gone to meet her spouse.

The lady was put in isolation after she was admitted at the County Referral Hospital until her actual diagnosis is established.

READ ALSO: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed in Uganda – WHO 

“The county disease surveillance team immediately took over the matter and took all the necessary precautions to ensure that there was minimal contact between the patient and other persons at the hospital including the staff and the other hospital users,” Kericho County government said in a statement.

“The county Department of Health Services is monitoring this potential case very closely and is working with the National Government to ensure that all essential procedures are followed to protect public health and safety,” the statement further assured.

Kenya Issues an Official Alert

Kenya, being a neighbor to Uganda, had issued a statement through the Ministry of Health saying it had issued an alert to all the health workers and the public to enhance surveillance measures.

“The ministry continues to monitor the evolution of the prolonged Ebola outbreak in the DRC which began in August 2018 with a view to strengthening the country’s preparedness and response capacity,” the statement read.

READ ALSO: History of Ebola in Uganda, Symptoms and Kenya’s Preparedness in Combating the Virus 

Ebola Symptoms

People infected with Ebola cannot spread the virus until the symptoms begin to appear. This is what happens after an incubation period of between two to 21 days:

• Sudden high fever
• Muscle weakness
• Sore throat
• Intense muscle and joint pain
• Headaches
• Vomiting

In extreme cases, Ebola patients suffer the following symptoms:

• Internal and external bleeding
• Kidney Complications

Ebola is passed through bodily fluids, including sweat passed through even the shaking of hands.

In Uganda, Ebola has already killed two family members: a five-year-old boy and his grandmother. The boy’s brother, who is three years old, is also infected while a number of family members have been placed in isolation.

Kenya has never had any Ebola case before.

The Ministry of Health has asked the public to be vigilant and report suspected cases of the virus to the nearest health facilities or through its emergency operations center via hotlines 0732 353535 and 0729 471414.