NPHA Issues Ebola Alert Following Kenya’s First Imported Case
Sia Lucy Kannah Sierra Leone’s National Public Health Agency (NPHA) has urged citizens to remain vigilant and calm following Kenya’s confirmation of its first imported Ebola case.
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the NPHA said the patient had travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) through Uganda before dying in Nairobi.
The agency said the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the DRC has recorded more than 8,000 reported cases and over 4,000 deaths.
“We recognise the concern this news may cause. Ebola can be contained through early detection, prompt care and cooperation with health authorities. Air travel between Sierra Leone and Kenya makes continued vigilance important,” the NPHA stated.
The Ministry of Health, Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority and NPHA will continue surveillance at the country’s points of entry. Travellers will be screened for signs and symptoms at Freetown International Airport and official land border crossings.
The NPHA is also urging travellers and members of the public to cooperate fully with health officers and provide accurate information about their health, recent travel history and any contact with people who may be ill.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person or through contaminated materials. Symptoms can appear between two and 21 days after exposure and may include sudden fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain or rash.
The agency warned that bleeding may occur but is not always present, urging anyone who develops symptoms to seek medical attention immediately rather than waiting for bleeding to occur.
The NPHA further advised people who develop symptoms after recent travel to the DRC or Kenya, or after contact with a suspected Ebola patient, to call 117 immediately and provide details of their symptoms, travel history and possible exposure.
It also advised such individuals to avoid close contact with others and public transport and to follow instructions from health officials for safe assessment and care, noting that early medical attention can greatly improve the chances of survival.
Health authorities have urged the public to follow official updates from the NPHA and Ministry of Health, avoid spreading unverified information and refrain from stigmatizing or discriminating against affected individuals and families.
