Health officers were left puzzled after a Kenyan truck driver who tested positive for Covid-19 in Uganda emerged negative during a subsequent test in Kenya.
The long-distance truck driver was tested for the disease at the Malaba border point by Ugandan officials on May 3rd while on his way to Tororo.
While driving back to Mombasa on May 7th, Ugandan authorities informed their Kenyan counterparts that he had been infected with the virus, The Standard reported on Thursday.
The driver was intercepted by Taita Taveta County Covid-19 response team along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.
He was immediately isolated at Voi County Referral Hospital, where samples were taken from his body for a validation test as health officials kicked off contact tracing.
But tests carried at Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) in Kilifi came back negative, casting doubt on the Ugandan results.
Taita Taveta Health CEC John Mwakima said further tests will be done on the driver in collaboration with Kemri before he is released.
The Health Ministry on Thursday, May 14th said truck drivers have become a weak link in the fight against the virus. This was after the number of positive cases involving truck drivers entering and exiting the country through various border points increased sharply in the past two weeks.
On Wednesday, May 13th, Kenyan authorities referred back 25 Tanzanian truck drivers who tested positive for the illness at the Namanga and Isebania borders points.
At least 20 Kenyan truck drivers have been diagnosed with the disease in Uganda since the outbreak.
Goats and pawpaw also test…
Goats and pawpaw also test positive in Tanzania.
Go figure out.