Editor's Review

Any meetings will have to seek special approval as the state department enforces the directive.

The Public Health and Standards State Department has suspended all meetings, seminars, and conferences scheduled to be held in hotels.

The move by the department, which is under the Ministry of Health, is aimed at the staff focusing on containing Ebola, days after an imported case was confirmed in Kenya.

The directive, contained in an internal memo seen by Nairobi Leo, and issued by Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni Muriuki, took effect immediately.

It would remain in force until further notice.

In a clarification to this publication, the ministry noted that the memo was addressed to all heads of directorates, divisions, and programmes within the department and not to the wider ministry or government.

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The memo makes clear that the department's attention is now on the outbreak.

"The State Department is prioritising emergency preparedness, contact tracing and response measures to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission," it reads.

File image of Public Health PS Mary Muthoni.

In line with this, the PS directed all directorates, divisions and programmes to put into practice the standard operating procedures already in place for preventing, preparing for and managing Ebola and other highly contagious infectious diseases.

Officials in the department who still wish to hold a hotel-based meeting will need to seek approval from her office beforehand.

"Any exception shall require prior approval from this Office," the memo states.

PS Muthoni further told department heads to ensure strict compliance with the directive. They must also keep technical officers available to support the ongoing emergency response operations.

The move follows the confirmation on Tuesday, October 6, of an imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, a form of Ebola.

Health CS Aden Duale confirmed that the patient, a Kenyan who had lived in the DRC for seven years, fell ill a month earlier and sought treatment in several hospitals before travelling by road to Kampala and later flying to Nairobi.

He arrived at JKIA on October 3, underwent routine screening, and was taken to Nairobi Hospital, where he was isolated after presenting with fever, fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat, and bleeding at injection sites; despite supportive care, he died.

In response, President William Ruto directed the National Security Council Committee to convene and recommend urgent measures to shield the country from Ebola.