- Ghana's Ministry of Health announced enhanced surveillance at airports following confirmed Ebola cases in Kenya and Nigeria
- Kenya reported nine Ebola cases linked to a Bundibugyo virus importation from the DRC, including infections among healthcare workers
- Ghana Health Service began monitoring travellers from high-risk areas for 21 days and conducted simulation exercises at key facilities
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Ghana has activated heightened Ebola preparedness measures following confirmed cases of the disease in Kenya and Nigeria, with the Ministry of Health citing direct flight links and high passenger volumes as key risk factors.
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Kenya reported its first imported Ebola case on October 6, 2026, caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
By October 22, 2026, eight additional cases had been confirmed, all traceable to the initial patient and including infections among healthcare workers.
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Nigeria recorded a separate confirmed case in its Federal Capital Territory on October 20, 2026.
How did Ghana respond to the Ebola outbreak?
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said in a statement that Ghana remains Ebola-free but that the Kenyan situation in particular presents a meaningful risk, given the volume of direct flights operating between the two countries.
The confirmed Nigerian case adds a further layer of concern due to the frequency of travel between Ghana and Nigeria.
In response, the Ghana Health Service has engaged the Ghana Airports Company Limited and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority to coordinate preparedness efforts.
Screening at points of entry has been intensified, and simulation exercises have been conducted at the Accra International Airport and the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre to test response readiness.
"These measures include enhanced surveillance at points of entry, including strengthened airport screening measures," Akandoh stated on Wednesday, October 21.
Travellers arriving from high-risk areas are subject to health monitoring for 21 days in line with standard public health protocols.
Healthcare workers have also been sensitised to recognise and appropriately manage suspected cases, and laboratory preparedness has been updated, including revisions to Standard Operating Procedures.
What are the symptoms of Ebola?
Ebola symptoms typically appear between 2 and 21 days after exposure, with an average onset of 8 to 10 days. Early signs include high-grade fever, severe headache, extreme fatigue, sore throat and chills, with unexplained bleeding and confusion occurring at later stages.
It is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person, or through contaminated materials, and is not spread through the air.
Anyone who develops these symptoms after travelling to an affected country, or after contact with a suspected or confirmed case, is advised to seek medical attention immediately and to inform health workers of their travel history.
The public has also been urged to practise good hand hygiene, avoid contact with individuals showing unexplained fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or bleeding, and to rely solely on official communication channels for health updates.
Source: TUKO.co.ke