US raises Kenya travel advisory to Level 3, 'Reconsider travel', citing health risks including Ebola

The US State Department raised its travel advisory for Kenya from Level 2 to Level 3, "Reconsider travel", on 19 October, and asked Americans to reconsider any travel to Kenya because of health risks, Reuters reported the same day. The previous update, in late July, kept Kenya at Level 2.

The advisory lists health, crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest and traffic safety as reasons. On health, it refers to a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travel Health Notice on Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in Kenya, the travel site The Traveler reported. Reuters said Kenya has confirmed eight Ebola cases, the latest reported on 18 October.

The World Health Organization declared the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17 May.

The Level 3 advisory does not prohibit travel to Kenya.

The advisory also lists areas at Level 4, "Do not travel". In Nairobi these are Eastleigh and Kibera, for crime and kidnapping. Garissa, Wajir, Mandera and Lamu counties, Tana River County except Tsavo National Park, Kilifi County north of highway C103 and coastal areas north of Malindi are listed for terrorism and kidnapping. West Pokot County and western Turkana County are listed for crime, and areas of Marsabit and Turkana counties within 50 km of the Ethiopian border for unrest.

On medical care, the advisory says services are limited and often unavailable in rural areas, and facilities often lack enough medicine and equipment.