Duale at pains to explain why it took 48 hours to confirm Kenya's Ebola case

Duale said the process began after doctors at The Nairobi Hospital identified symptoms consistent with Ebola, prompting the collection of a blood sample for testing.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has explained why it took 48 hours to confirm Kenya’s first Ebola case, saying health authorities had to subject samples from the patient to several laboratory tests before announcing the results.

He said the sample was first tested at the National Virology Laboratory before being taken to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) laboratories, with results also shared with the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for further verification.

“From the moment the doctors in Nairobi Hospital found the symptoms on that patient, we had to do several procedures. Take the blood sample. Our first point of testing is the National Virology Labs. Then we take it to Kemri Labs,” Duale said.

He added: “At times we go share it also to countercheck with our CDC colleagues, US CDC. So for us to get the best test results, we have to do a number.”

Source: Standard