THE World Health Organization, WHO, yesterday, classified Kenya in East Africa as a “high risk” country for the spread of the deadly Ebola virus from West Africa, where nearly 2,000 have been infected.
The virus could reach East Africa through Nairobi’s airport, where about 70 flights from West Africa land every week. It was, therefore, crucial to tighten Ebola controls, said the WHO’s Kenya director Custodia Mandlhate.
Kenya’s government has decided not to cancel any flights. Neighbouring Uganda, and Rwanda, have reported one suspected Ebola case each, which both tested negative. The number of reported Ebola cases in the four affected countries has climbed to 1,975 the WHO said in Geneva. Of these patients, 1,069 have died. The updated tally includes 128 new cases and 56 deaths that were reported on Sunday and Monday, most of them from Liberia and Sierra Leone, the UN health agency said.
Nigeria requested the experimental Ebola drug ZMapp after reporting its third death from the virus. “The Nigerian government has reached out to the US Centre for Disease Control to request the unapproved Ebola drug, ZMapp, for the treatment of affected persons in Nigeria,” said Information Minister Labaran Maku, who added that Nigeria was waiting for an answer.
The African Union on Wednesday welcomed the WHO’s decision to use experimental drugs in West Africa. “If you have a disease with a mortality rate of up to 90% and a treatment is offered, then the patient should be given this drug if he consents,” said African Union commissioner for social affairs Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko. Nigeria is the second African country to request ZMapp.