Kenya Slams Israel’s Ebola-Related Entry Ban, Which Was Quickly Lifted

Kenya has sharply criticized an Israeli health ministry directive that blocked travelers from several African countries, including Kenya, from boarding flights to Israel over fears of Ebola. Kenya’s foreign affairs secretary, Korir Singoei, called the move “unjustified” and said it did not reflect the country’s actual health situation.

The Israeli instruction had required airlines to prevent boarding for passengers from Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, and also for anyone who had visited those countries in the previous 21 days. It applied to all airlines serving Israel and required careful checks of travelers’ recent travel history at check-in. Israeli citizens and permanent residents were exempt.

The Health Ministry said the measure was preventative and part of broader preparedness efforts. It also urged people to avoid nonessential travel to areas with known active disease, and told returning travelers from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda who develop fever or other unusual symptoms within 21 days to stay home, avoid contact with others, and immediately call the Health Ministry hotline 5400* to report that they had been in an Ebola-affected area.

Kenya’s foreign ministry said the decision ignored the facts on the ground. Singoei said no confirmed Ebola cases have been detected in Kenya and said the country has a broad monitoring and testing system in place. He added that more than 80,000 tests have been carried out without finding a single case. Shortly after the Israeli restriction was announced, it was canceled.