Ebola Threats Puts Kenya's Health Surveillance Systems Under Scrutiny

Health experts are urging Kenya to strengthen surveillance at its borders, maintain infection-control measures and better protect frontline health workers as the country responds to the threat of Ebola and seeks to prevent imported infections from triggering wider transmission. The call comes as health officials emphasize that preparedness for high-consequence infectious diseases must begin well before an outbreak is detected and extend across the health system, from international points of entry to community clinics.

Dr. Githinji Gitahi, group chief executive officer of Amref Health Africa, said the identification of imported cases highlights the importance of rapidly detecting people who may have been exposed to Ebola, tracing their contacts and ensuring they receive care.

Kenya has achieved a 99.5% contact-tracing rate, Gitahi said, describing the performance as critical to monitoring people exposed to the virus and ensuring that those who develop symptoms can receive timely treatment.

“The first gap is border surveillance. So far, there’s no other gap that I have seen,” he said.Effective surveillance at airports, land crossings and other points of entry is intended not simply to prevent people from entering a country,but to identify suspected infections early and connect people with appropriate medical care The particularly important case should have been identified before they cross over so that they get care,”

Health experts are calling for consistent infection prevention and control practices and sufficient personal protective equipment in healthcare facilities, warning that preparedness cannot be limited to hospitals directly involved in responding to an identified case.

“You don’t buy the extinguisher when the fire breaks out. And you don’t service the extinguisher when the fire is ongoing,” he said.

According to Professor Joachim Osur, vice-chancellor of Amref International University, there is need for countries to strengthen global health security, to put in structures in place to fund and to get those innovations that can help us to quickly track diseases, quickly train people, quickly support communities,

The discussions took place at the Africa Health Collaborative Annual Convening 2026, which brings together universities, health-sector organizations and innovators to develop practical solutions to healthcare challenges across Africa.

Dr. Githinji Gitahi, group chief executive officer of Amref Health Africa.