The Health Ministry has said that it has increased cross-border surveillance for polio disease to avoid possible importation of the virus from neighboring countries.
According Jackson Kioko, who is the Director of Medical Services, the new move is aimed at securing the country from any polio outbreak even as porous borders continue posing a major risk in disease transmission.
Speaking during the official opening of polio Technical Advisory Group (TAG) workshop on Wednesday, Kioko revealed that outbreaks that have since been reported in other countries were a reminder of an urgent need for extra vigilance along the borders.
"Polio outbreak is a possible and an immediate threat to all countries due to the general nature of global trading, travel and tour networks," he said.
Amid growing concerns over the risks of a potential re-introduction of polio virus, representatives present at the meeting met and reviewed the progress that has already been made in disease surveillance, general preparedness and the status of regional polio eradication campaigns.
"In the event that a single child has been infected with polio anywhere in the world regardless of geographical distance, children in other nations remain at high risk of contracting the viral disease, and this is why we are securing our entry and exit points," added Dr Kioko.