The Government of Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding national and global health security amid ongoing international discussions on strengthening preparedness and response mechanisms for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other emerging public health threats.
In a statement, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said Kenya welcomes partnerships that enhance global health security and support coordinated, science-based action in protecting lives.
Duale noted that Kenya’s role in regional and global health security has been built through years of investment in health systems strengthening, disease surveillance, workforce development and emergency preparedness.
He said Kenyan health professionals have previously supported responses to major outbreaks across the region, including the West Africa Ebola outbreak between 2014 and 2016, while local institutions continue to play a key role in surveillance, laboratory systems and emergency response coordination.
This comes amid reports the Trump administration is expected to deploy U.S. public health officers to Kenya to staff a potential quarantine facility there amid the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
The facility, which was pending approval from the Kenyan government as of Tuesday, is intended for Americans who have been exposed to or at high risk of testing positive for the virus in the region, as well as those who test positive, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
In past outbreaks, Americans exposed to the virus were sent home to be treated in state-of-the-art facilities.
The Trump administration has already flown some U.S. citizens to Europe for treatment.
Some members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, a uniformed branch under the Department of Health and Human Services, have received notices to deploy, a report said.
The move comes as health authorities race to contain a fast-growing outbreak of a rare Ebola strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain, the third-largest such outbreak on record, a public health emergency of international concern.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids.
The government said it has intensified preparedness measures in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the region by activating the national Incident Management System, enhancing surveillance at points of entry, designating laboratories for testing and strengthening coordination between national and county governments.
According to the Ministry of Health, more than 55,000 travellers have so far been screened through various ports of entry, while ten suspected cases have been tested and all returned negative.
The statement further emphasized that any international health cooperation arrangements will be guided by Kenya’s national laws, public health regulations, biosafety and biosecurity standards, and the government’s responsibility to protect citizens and frontline health workers.
Kenya also acknowledged longstanding support from the United States and other global partners in strengthening surveillance systems, emergency preparedness, workforce training and health infrastructure.
“Kenya is ready. Kenya is capable. Kenya will continue to act responsibly in safeguarding both national and global health security,” Duale said, adding that the government will continue providing timely updates.
