NAIROBI, Kenya- Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has assured visitors and tourism businesses that Kenya is strengthening precautions after confirming its first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease.
Speaking at the Magical Kenya Travel Expo at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi, Miano said the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife was coordinating with the Ministry of Health as authorities stepped up measures to prevent further transmission.
The expo runs from October 6 to 8.
The case involved a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He travelled to Nairobi through Uganda, developed symptoms and later died. Health authorities have intensified surveillance and contact tracing.
Miano said the Government was activating additional safeguards to protect public health and maintain confidence in Kenya as a tourism destination.
She pointed to the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre for Eastern Africa, based at Kenyatta University, as part of the country’s capacity to prepare for and respond to emergencies affecting the sector.
More than 652,000 travellers screened
By October 6, Kenya had screened 652,584 travellers entering the country, tested 267 suspected samples and trained about 5,000 health workers in Ebola prevention and management, according to the World Health Organization.
Authorities had also identified 28 contacts linked to the confirmed case.
The WHO is supporting Kenya’s response and has advised against restrictions on travel or trade involving Kenya, Uganda or the Democratic Republic of Congo based on the information currently available.
It has called for continued surveillance, rapid detection and coordinated response measures.
Miano’s remarks come as tourism stakeholders gather in Nairobi for the annual expo, which brings together tourism businesses and destination representatives.
The Government says it will continue working with health agencies and the industry as it manages the outbreak risk.
