Health

Kenyan health authorities have reassured the public that no Ebola case has been reported in the country despite the ongoing outbreaks in neighbouring DRC and Uganda.

In a more favourable scenario, a strengthened public health response could bring this latest outbreak under control. This would be possible with continued support from the international community, the rapid development of vaccines and community engagement.

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The ministry said the platform will offer reliable health guidance, prevention tips and updates on Ebola, while encouraging the public to rely on official sources for information.

World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had recently visited the epicentre of the outbreak in the DR Congo. He said, "The virus is ahead of us; we need to move faster".

WHO stresses that handwashing remains one of the most cost‑effective public health measures. In both households and healthcare settings, it plays a critical role in reducing disease spread, particularly where sanitation systems and food safety controls are weak.

The plan also focuses on protecting vulnerable populations, improving cross-border coordination, and ensuring rapid response to new cases. With no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, it aims to reinforce health systems to enhance resilience during emergencies.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the investigational therapy, known as MBP‑134, will be offered to individuals at high risk of exposure.

The vaccine has so far been tested in early-stage human trials involving 39 volunteers, mainly to assess safety and determine whether the AI-designed antigen is well tolerated in the human body.

The shoreline communities, where thousands of fishermen, traders and transporters interact daily, depend heavily on informal water routes that often lack proper health screening.

Despite the setbacks, health authorities and international partners continue to scale up response efforts, including surveillance, contact tracing, and safe burial operations, in an attempt to contain the outbreak.

Uganda's Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine said the country had so far confirmed 15 Ebola cases, including 11 imported cases and four infections among health workers who treated the first patient.

Rising cases of stress and depression are overwhelming Kenya’s National Child Helpline, exposing urgent gaps in child mental health support and response systems.

A new targeted therapy has been approved for women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, offering extended survival and renewed hope following promising clinical trial results.

A major review of 17 studies suggests a possible association between cat ownership—particularly in childhood—and an increased risk of schizophrenia-related disorders later in life, though researchers stress the evidence does not prove causation.

The warning comes as some countries in affected and neighbouring regions have introduced precautionary measures in response to recent Ebola outbreaks.

KEMRI Chief Executive Officer Prof Elijah Songok said the establishment of the two model health facilities is aimed at eradicating the endemic diseases in the region.

In the study, babies were followed from birth and assessed over time. Scientists analysed umbilical cord blood to examine epigenetic changes and chemical markers that affect how genes are switched on or off without changing the DNA itself.

Nyoro said the proposed facility lacks public support and questioned the government's decision to continue pursuing the project despite growing opposition and ongoing legal challenges.

Ruto argued that turning down the request would have been irresponsible given the regional health threat and decades of American support for Kenya’s health sector.

The facility is designed to temporarily house American citizens who may have been exposed to Ebola, amid ongoing outbreaks in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

To support implementation, the EAC Secretariat, working with the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) and other partners, was instructed to convene a technical meeting to align screening procedures, traveller health declarations, and other public health measures at points of entry.

The programme brings together a multidisciplinary team of health experts, including epidemiologists, clinicians, laboratory personnel, logisticians, and risk communication specialists.

According to Muturi, the International Health Regulations require countries to strengthen surveillance, reporting, preparedness and risk communication systems while ensuring implementation is carried out with full respect for human dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Although they account for just nine per cent of the global population, they suffer nearly one-third of all foodborne diseases, many of them severe diarrhoeal illnesses that can prove fatal, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

For many households, particularly in low-income communities, an emergency is not only a medical crisis but also a financial shock unfolding in real time. The question of how to pay for transport often arises at the worst possible moment.

Health officials also noted an increase in mother-to-child HIV transmission, which has risen from 7.3 per cent to 9 per cent.

Oz said the plan is driven by the need for speed in emergency medical response, especially for suspected Ebola cases near the DRC. He said Kenya is closer to DRC, making it a strategic location for response operations.

Duale told MPs on Wednesday that emergency health interventions must be implemented without delay, arguing that consultation processes could slow down response efforts.

Kenya is boosting surveillance, screening and emergency response systems as WHO delivers 1,000 PPE kits and neighbouring countries report new Ebola cases, prompting heightened national preparedness across counties, hospitals and border points.

Duale said the proposed Ebola treatment facilities are intended to serve all people within Kenya, regardless of nationality, and are not reserved for foreigners.

KNUNM expressed concern over proposals to accommodate Ebola-exposed individuals in Kenya, warning that the country’s health system is not adequately prepared to safely manage such high-risk infectious cases.

KMPDU Upper Eastern Branch Chairperson Dr Kananu Kubai said repeated attempts to engage the county government had not yielded results, leaving doctors with no option but to withdraw their services.

PS Muthoni ruled out infection in a Turkish national who had been admitted to AAR Hospital along Kiambu Road after showing Ebola-like symptoms. The case was among multiple alerts that have all tested negative.

The initiative forms part of broader health sector reforms in Kiambu County aimed at leveraging technology to deliver efficient, high-quality, and patient-centred healthcare services.

A DRC health ministry report released on May 27 said the country had recorded 1,077 suspected Ebola cases as of May 26.

Uganda’s Ministry of Health said the new cases were discovered among people who had already been listed as contacts of confirmed patients, showing that the virus is still spreading within known contact networks

Health authorities have urged anyone who has travelled from the DRC or Uganda within the last 21 days to remain alert for Ebola symptoms and seek immediate medical attention if they develop signs of illness.

According to lawyer lawyer Joshua Malidzo Nyawa, the inability to access the site has made it difficult to establish whether activities linked to the disputed project are continuing despite conservatory orders issued by the court.

Kidney disease is one of the fastest-growing causes of death across the world. Around 850 million people are living with some form of it, more than the combined number of people affected by diabetes and cancer.

He linked the project to Kenya’s long-standing health partnership with the United States and other international partners. He said the cooperation had helped the country respond to major health challenges, including HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and Ebola.

Kaseya outlined three key "non-negotiable" priorities: ensuring adequate financing and resources, strengthening regional coordination, and investing in African-led science.

A new cancer injection has shown promising results in patients with advanced head and neck cancer, shrinking tumours in some cases and eliminating them completely in others during an international clinical trial.

A new study suggests mosquitoes can learn from past encounters with insect repellent, potentially making some less likely to avoid it during future feeding attempts.

A groundbreaking clinical trial has found that daraxonrasib nearly doubled survival time for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, raising hopes for a major breakthrough in the treatment of one of the world's deadliest cancers.

Four patients have been discharged from the hospital after recovering, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), with more recoveries expected as diagnosis and care improve.

As Ebola cases surge in the Democratic Republic of Congo and spread into neighbouring Uganda, countries are tightening border measures and quarantine plans—despite mounting expert warnings that surveillance and rapid response are more effective than travel restrictions.

Mungatana said the matter should be subjected to full parliamentary scrutiny, arguing that the Health Committees provide the most appropriate platform for accountability and public clarification on sensitive national issues.

KMA demanded that urgent investigations be launched, the doctor involved be suspended, and both professional and criminal accountability be pursued.

WHO report warns the world remains dangerously unprepared for future pandemics, as fresh Ebola outbreaks expose persistent gaps in global health systems and urgent reforms are called for, particularly in Africa.