Authorities at the Kenya-Uganda border say they have adopted a multi-agency approach in their quest to remain alert as the coronavirus epidemic spreads outside China.
Busia border Health Services Officer Joshua Arusei told the Nation Friday that they are collaborating with their Ugandan counterparts to screen each and every individual crossing the border to either side.
“We have increased screening to two points in Kenya; one at the main border entrance and another at Uganda’s entry gates for locals who cross to Uganda. Uganda is also doing the same,” he said.
Mr Arusei said they are checking people’s temperature as well as travel history of visitors from Uganda.
“Travellers with temperatures above 38 are isolated for further examination. So far we have not registered any suspected case linked to the disease.”
However, the efforts may be compromised considering that the Busia crossing has many unofficial routes used by residents to access either side of the border.
A spot check by the Nation revealed that locals were easily accessing either side of the border using the porous Sofia and Marachi estates.
The team also lacks requisite equipment to manage the virus if a suspected case emerges.
This comes at a time when authorities at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport are on the spot for allowing a China Southern Airlines plane to land in Nairobi.
It landed on Wednesday with 239 passengers aboard.
JKIA staffers initially refused to screen them. They were later cleared of coronavirus and advised to self-quarantine.
The new coronavirus (Covid-19) has killed more than 2,800 people and infected over 83,000 worldwide.
In Africa, Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria confirmed their first cases of coronavirus.