Why We Cannot Disclose the Ebola Patient's Details - CS Duale

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has explained why the government cannot disclose the identity and personal details of a Kenyan patient who died after being placed in an Ebola isolation facility.

Speaking on Wednesday, October 7, Duale said the government is bound by patient privacy requirements, which restrict the disclosure of personal information without the consent of the patient's family.

"You can't give patient details because of the patient privacy law. If you look at the Kenya Data Protection Act, you can only do that with the consent of the family. That's why the farthest I could go, I said, 'he's a Kenyan,' and that's it. So we cannot do that," he said.

Duale also addressed how the patient passed through airport screening despite the measures in place to identify travellers who could be displaying symptoms of the disease.

He said the patient was among the hundreds of thousands of people screened and alleged that medication may have been used to conceal symptoms before the traveller went through the screening process.

"Out of the 650,000 we have screened, this patient must have used medications to mask the basic symptoms at the airport. He must have also falsified the declaration form," he added.

Duale subsequently urged travellers to provide accurate information when completing health declaration forms and undergoing screening, warning that providing false information is against the law.

"To people who are travelling, that that's against the law. It's also in the best interest of your health. You need to protect yourself, so it's good to declare factually and correctly," he further said.

Meanwhile, President William Ruto has ordered the National Security Council Committee (NSCC) to convene and assess the situation following the first imported case of Ebola virus disease in Kenya. 

In a statement on Tuesday, October 6, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said the President tasked NCSS to recommend necessary measures to safeguard the country from the Ebola virus.

“l"President William Ruto this afternoon ordered the National Security Council Committee (NSCC) to convene and assess the situation following the death of a patient confirmed as an imported case of Ebola Virus Disease and to recommend the necessary measures to safeguard the country," he stated. 

Mohamed said the government has intensified surveillance, contact tracing, and public health measures to prevent further transmission of the Ebola virus. 

He noted that 8 family members of the deceased Ebola patient have been laced under quarantine and are undergoing symptom monitoring. 

Mohamed mentioned that 21 healthcare workers who attended to the deceased have also been placed under quarantine. 

"Eight family members of the deceased have been placed under quarantine and are undergoing daily symptom monitoring. Twenty-one healthcare workers who attended to the deceased have also been placed under quarantine and are being closely monitored," he added. 

Mohamed also said 27 passengers who travelled with the Ebola patient from Uganda to Kenya have been identified and contacted. 

Further, he announced that the deceased patient has been safely buried in accordance with health protocols. 

"The deceased has been safely buried in accordance with established public health protocols," he further said.