The United States has raised its travel advisory for Kenya, urging American citizens to reconsider travelling to the East African country following the confirmation of eight Ebola cases.
The US Embassy in Kenya announced on Tuesday that the advisory had been upgraded from Level 2 to Level 3 because of growing health concerns, alongside other security risks.
“The level was changed from Level 2 to Level 3 due to health risks,” the embassy said in a statement.
The updated advisory urged Americans to “Reconsider travel in Kenya due to risk of health, crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest and traffic safety. Some areas have increased risk.”
Kenya is experiencing its first recorded Ebola outbreak after a Kenyan citizen living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) tested positive for the virus following his return to the country in early October.
The man, a businessman in his 40s, travelled from the DRC through Uganda by road and air before arriving in Kenya. He was reported as the country’s first Ebola case on October 6 and later died in Nairobi on October 5, according to the supplied report.
Seven additional cases have since been recorded, bringing the total to eight. Those infected include relatives of the first patient, healthcare workers who treated him and a member of the medical support team.
Kenya’s Health Ministry said the affected individuals were in quarantine and in stable condition.
Authorities Trace Contacts of Infected Patients
Kenyan health authorities have intensified efforts to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission.
Last week, officials reported identifying 130 people who had been in contact with infected individuals. Of these, 128 had been traced and placed in quarantine.
The US travel warning came a day after the State Department issued renewed travel advice for American citizens, reflecting concerns over the health situation and other risks in parts of Kenya.
Ebola Outbreak Continues in DR Congo
The situation in Kenya comes amid a major Ebola outbreak in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, where the disease has spread since May.
Congolese health authorities reported that the epidemic had exceeded 9,000 cases, with 4,381 deaths.
The spread of the virus across the region has heightened concerns among health authorities as Kenya works to contain its first recorded outbreak and monitor people who may have been exposed.
