The Federal Government of Somalia has announced that it is strengthening the country’s preparedness to prevent Ebola, following Kenya’s confirmation of its first case of the disease in Nairobi.
Somalia’s Ministry of Health and Social Care stated that, while no Ebola cases have been confirmed in the country so far, it is taking precautionary measures in light of the situation in East Africa and the movement of people across the region.
The Ministry reported that the individual diagnosed in Kenya was a Kenyan national who had been living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and had transited through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi on October 3rd. The individual was subsequently confirmed to be infected with the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus and passed away while being transported for medical care.
Somalia is currently enhancing disease surveillance and the early detection of suspected cases, while also preparing emergency response teams, laboratory and testing protocols, and infection prevention measures. The Ministry also stated that it is focusing on preparations at points of entry, the exchange of health data across borders, and the setup of quarantine facilities and protocols for transferring suspected cases.
The Ministry of Health urged the public to remain calm yet vigilant, noting that symptoms of Ebola include sudden fever, severe fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, and unexplained bleeding.
The Ministry stated that symptoms can appear between 2 and 21 days after exposure to the virus, and advised people to seek immediate medical care if they develop severe symptoms—particularly if they have recently traveled to an area where the disease is present or have had contact with a suspected case.
The Government of Somalia stated that it would closely monitor the situation in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the region as a whole, while continuously assessing the risk of the disease and measures to prevent it from reaching the country.
