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MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Ministry of Health and Human Services has placed a citizen in quarantine in the capital, Mogadishu, as a precautionary measure after the individual had contact with a Kenyan national whose Ebola infection was confirmed while in Kenya, before the patient died in Nairobi, according to information contained in the report.
The information indicated that the Somali citizen had travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo through Uganda before returning to Somalia. Somali health authorities received a notification from their Ugandan counterparts on the evening of October 10 regarding the possibility of exposure to the virus. This prompted the relevant authorities to locate the individual and monitor the person’s health. The available information did not include any results confirming that the citizen had contracted the virus.
The Ministry of Health and relevant agencies, including immigration authorities, the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Institute of Health, took part in a tracing operation that lasted about 24 hours. The operation aimed to locate the citizen, assess potential health risks and implement the necessary preventive measures.
Health authorities urged the public to obtain information from official sources and avoid spreading rumours or circulating unverified claims. They also provided a free hotline, 995, and a WhatsApp contact number, +252 61 022 4623, for inquiries and reporting related concerns.
The measures come as Somali authorities monitor developments related to the Ebola outbreak in the region, following Kenya’s announcement of an infection involving the Bundibugyo strain. On October 8, the Somali government approved measures to strengthen preparedness, including the formation of a committee comprising six ministries and the intensification of health precautions at airports, alongside similar preparations in Puntland. Health authorities also took part in a simulation exercise organised by the World Health Organization in September.
These developments highlight the importance of strengthening disease surveillance systems, coordination between health and security institutions, cooperation with regional countries, and the provision of accurate public information. Timely information-sharing and an early response remain essential to reducing the risk of infectious disease transmission, while maintaining a clear distinction between precautionary quarantine and a confirmed diagnosis.
