Attachments
Description of the Event
Approximate date of impact Kenya was at risk for Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) after successive outbreaks declaration in Neighboring countries. The EVD declaration in Uganda on 20 September 2022 and the Marburg outbreak declared in Tanzania, Kagera region on 21 March 2023 by the Ministry of Health (MoH). Kenya has to planned for different level of risk of VHF, high risk being EVD with the threat of border transmission with Uganda.
Provide any updates in the situation since the field report and explain what is expected to happen.
On September 20, 2022, an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was reported in Mubende, Uganda. Neighbouring countries, including Kenya, took steps to prevent the spread of the virus. The Kenya MoH issued an alert on September 21, 2022, requesting the mobilization of all relevant stakeholders to initiate prevention, preparedness, and response measures following the notification of the Ebola outbreak in Uganda. The risk of EVD spreading to Kenya is high, with refugees arriving from neighbouring counties, including DRC, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and South Sudan, often passing through Uganda before reaching Kenya. Kenya Red Cross launched a DREF operation to conduct relevant anticipatory actions to mitigate the risk of this new strain of Ebola.
An allocation of CHF 186,942 was made on October 8, 2022, for 3 months with preparedness activities aligned with Kenya's Ministry of Health National Ebola Preparedness and Response plan, which establishes response coordination structures at national and county government levels. The MoH profiled 20 counties out of 47 considered at risk of being impacted in the event of EVD entry into Kenya. KRCS is a member of the national and county-level coordination mechanisms participating in Risk Communication and Community Engagement, Disease Surveillance, WASH, and coordination sub-committees. The activities covered Mombasa, Kwale, Taita-Taveta, Machakos, Makueni, Kiambu, Turkana, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Nakuru, Kericho, Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, and Nairobi counties.
On March 16, 2023, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the Republic of Tanzania announced seven cases and five deaths of an unknown disease reported in the Kagera region (bordering Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi) in Bukoba rural, Maruku, and Kanyengereko ward in Bulinda and Butayaibega villages. The cases were confirmed for Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) on March 21, 2023. The index case was reported to have a travel history from Goziba in Lake Victoria, which also borders Kenya. Also, see the Tanzania Marburg outbreak (MDRTZ033) (https://adore.ifrc.org/Download.aspx?FileId=659332). Being a hemorrhagic fever disease, the continuity of KRCS preparedness actions under this intervention remained relevant and necessary to ensure continuity in prevention for additional weeks.
In June 2023, while no cases were reported from Tanzania, the procurement of SDB kits was still underway through the IFRC international procurement chain. An extension of this intervention is thus needed for up to 4 months, covering the surveillance period in Tanzania but also allowing the kits to arrive in the country. This do not delayed the SDB activities as the NS used existing stocks complemented with some local items procurement to ensure a relevant completion of the readiness