WHO Warns Against Ebola Misinformation as Kenya Races to Contain Virus

WHO Warns Against Ebola Misinformation as Kenya Races to Contain Virus

Dr Neema Kimambo, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Kenya, addresses journalists during an Ebola media engagement in Nairobi, urging media practitioners to prioritise accurate reporting, counter misinformation and promote public awareness to support efforts to contain the outbreak.

By Jeff Oyugi 

Nairobi - October 15, 2026

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged Kenyan journalists to prioritise accurate reporting, public education and responsible coverage of the Ebola outbreak, warning that misinformation and fear could undermine efforts to contain the virus following the country's first confirmed case.

WHO Representative to Kenya Dr Neema Kimambo said the media had a critical role in helping the public understand how Ebola spreads, recognise its symptoms and seek medical attention promptly, noting that the quality of information circulating during an outbreak could significantly influence people's behaviour and the effectiveness of the response.

Speaking during a media engagement involving editors and journalists, Dr Kimambo said Kenya had a crucial opportunity to prevent further transmission through effective contact tracing, public awareness and continued preparedness.

Her remarks came after the Ministry of Health announced on October 6 that Kenya had recorded its first confirmed Ebola case. According to Dr Kimambo, the patient entered the country on October 3 and proceeded to Nairobi Hospital, where tests subsequently confirmed the infection.

She commended the rapid detection of the case and timely reporting by Kenyan health authorities, saying the response had attracted recognition from the international public health community.

"We have this window of opportunity in Kenya to contain and make sure that there's no further community spread," she said, while cautioning that the risk remained significant because Ebola continued to affect other parts of the region.

Dr Kimambo emphasised that the confirmation of one case should not lead to complacency, urging the country to sustain surveillance and preparedness measures to guard against additional infections.

She said the media had a responsibility to ensure that the public received reliable information, particularly because awareness of Ebola did not necessarily translate into a proper understanding of the disease.

According to the WHO representative, the organisation's latest assessment indicated that nine out of 10 people had heard of Ebola, but approximately half still had limited knowledge of how it spreads and how to protect themselves.

The knowledge gap, she warned, could expose communities to two dangers: unnecessary panic driven by rumours and failure to take appropriate precautions because of inadequate information.

Dr Kimambo challenged journalists to verify information before publication, particularly claims circulating on social media, and to rely on credible sources, including the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Institute, WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

She acknowledged the pressure newsrooms face to publish breaking news quickly but warned that the pursuit of sensational headlines could have serious consequences during a public health emergency.

"While we want to sell news and usually bad news sells better, let's make sure that we are responsible in our reporting," she said.

She also called for greater protection of patients' privacy, warning against publishing names, photographs or other identifying details that could expose infected people, suspected cases, contacts and their families to stigma.

According to Dr Kimambo, irresponsible coverage could discourage individuals who might have been exposed to the virus from coming forward for screening or seeking medical attention.

She urged journalists to balance the public's right to information with the need to preserve the dignity of patients and their families, particularly in communities where fear and discrimination could complicate the response.

The WHO representative further called on media practitioners to strengthen their understanding of Ebola so they could accurately explain the disease and address public concerns.

She said early symptoms could resemble those of malaria and include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhoea, making timely medical assessment particularly important for people who might have been exposed.

Dr Kimambo urged anyone experiencing symptoms after possible exposure to seek medical attention promptly and follow guidance from health authorities rather than attempting to manage the illness without professional assistance.

She also stressed the importance of safe and dignified burial practices, noting that the handling of bodies of people who have died from Ebola must follow established public health guidelines to prevent further transmission while respecting cultural sensitivities.

On calls for Kenya to close its borders to prevent imported infections, Dr Kimambo argued that such a measure would not necessarily provide the intended protection.

She said border closures could carry economic consequences while encouraging people to use unofficial crossing points where health screening and surveillance would be difficult.

Allowing travellers to use designated border crossings, she argued, provides authorities with better opportunities to screen people, identify potential risks and direct those requiring assistance to appropriate health facilities.

Meanwhile, Africa CDC Director of the Centre for Disease Preparedness and Response, Dr Mankoula, warned that community mistrust and misinformation remained among the biggest obstacles to controlling Ebola in affected areas.

Drawing on the response in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), he said misinformation could undermine public confidence in health interventions, making it difficult for authorities to persuade communities to adopt protective behaviour.

He argued that journalists, editors, social media influencers and community leaders were essential partners in addressing false claims and improving public understanding of the disease.

"During an epidemic, a virus can infect a person, but information can influence behaviours of thousands and millions of people," he said.

Dr Mankoula urged journalists to provide practical information that answers the questions communities are likely to ask, including how Ebola is transmitted, how people can recognise possible infection, where to report suspected cases and why early medical attention matters.

He said timely access to accurate information was important, but warned that speed should not come at the expense of verification.

The Africa CDC official added that early medical intervention could significantly influence patient outcomes, making it important for the public to understand when and how to seek assistance.

His remarks reinforced the WHO's call for the media to move beyond reporting confirmed infections and provide sustained public education that helps communities make informed decisions.

The discussions also highlighted the broader need for African countries to strengthen their capacity to manage public health emergencies without relying excessively on external assistance.

Dr Lul Riek called for greater African ownership of health security, arguing that sustainable preparedness required stronger institutions, innovation and investment in systems capable of responding to future outbreaks.

He cited previous continental public health gatherings held in different African cities and pointed to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as the host city for the next meeting referenced in his remarks.

Dr Riek said Africa needed to take greater responsibility for protecting its population, warning that dependence on external partners could leave countries vulnerable when such support was unavailable.

His remarks echoed the broader Africa CDC agenda on health security and sovereignty, which seeks to strengthen the continent's ability to prepare for and respond to public health threats.

For Kenya, the immediate priority remains containing the confirmed Ebola case while maintaining vigilance against further transmission.

Dr Kimambo said WHO would continue working with the Ministry of Health and other partners to support preparedness, laboratory services, case management and disease surveillance.

She added that the organisation had supported the response through the provision of personal protective equipment, testing supplies and other essential resources, including a recent donation valued at approximately 70,000 US dollars.

As health authorities continue containment efforts, the message from WHO and Africa CDC is clear: effective outbreak management requires more than medical interventions. It also depends on public trust, credible information, responsible journalism and communities willing to act on sound health advice.

With Ebola awareness still falling short of adequate public understanding, the challenge for Kenya will be to turn widespread recognition of the disease into informed action before misinformation, fear or complacency creates opportunities for further transmission.