A woman who was admitted to Kericho County Referral Hospital’s isolation unit on suspicion of contracting Ebola has tested negative for the deadly virus.
This was confirmed by Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki in a statement on Monday evening. She said the 36-year-old patient also tested negative for other viral haemorrhage fevers.
“The result of the tests carried out by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratories on the blood samples from the 36-year-old lady who is currently admitted in the isolation unit at the Kericho County Referral Hospital have been confirmed to be NEGATIVE for Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) and other Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers,” said Kariuki.
The Health minister further reiterated that Kenya remains Ebola-free and there is no need to panic.
“The Ministry of Health wishes to reiterate to the general public and health facilities that we are prepared in terms of Ebola prevention and response measures and, therefore, there is no need for panic,” the statement reads.
On Sunday, three other people who had taken the Kericho woman to hospital had also been put in the isolation ward at the referral facility. Early Monday, the Health Ministry deployed a special team of health workers to the country’s points of entry following the heightened alert on Ebola.
Kericho County Governor Paul Chepkwony commended the county’s disease surveillance team which he said remains vigilant.
“I wish to commend them for the job well done,” Prof Chepkwony said after the release of the test results on Monday.
