STANDARD OPERATING
PROCEDURES (SOPs)
DURING RESPONSE TO THE
EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE
OUTBREAK

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a severe, highly infectious and often fatal illness caused by the Ebola virus. The disease spreads through direct contact with blood, body fluids, secretions or contaminated materials from an infected or deceased person. Human-to-human transmission can occur rapidly, especially in settings where there is close physical interaction, poor hygiene practices, overcrowding and inadequate infection prevention and control measures.

During outbreaks, public places and gatherings such as markets, places of worship, transportation, social events and burial ceremonies can significantly increase the risk of transmission if appropriate preventive measures are not observed.

The Ministry of Health has developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to guide individuals, communities, institutions, organizers and operators of public spaces and services during the 2026 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak response.

To provide guidance to individuals and households on preventing the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

• Sudden fever
• Weakness/fatigue
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Chest pain
• Unexplained bleeding
• Yellowing of eyes
• Severe headache

1. People with Ebola-like symptoms should visit the nearest health facility for care and treatment and should NOT ATTEND any event in public
2. Wash hands frequently with clean running water and soap or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
3. Avoid physical contact such as handshakes, hugging and kissing.
4. Avoid contact with body fluids including blood, sweat, saliva, vomit, urine and stool.
5. Do not touch sick persons.
6. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
7. Ensure good personal and environmental hygiene at home and workplaces.
8. Immediately report anyone with Ebola-like symptoms to the nearest health facility or Village Health Team (VHT) or Community Health Extension Workers.

1. Isolate the person immediately from others and alert the health authorities immediately.
2. Avoid direct physical contact.
3. Do not administer home treatment.
4. Clean contaminated surfaces with disinfectant such as chlorine/Jik.

Mass Gatherings are characterized by the concentration of people at a specific location for a specific purpose over a set period of time. There is ample evidence that mass gatherings can increase the risk of transmission of infectious diseases such as Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The Ministry of Health is providing this guideline for consideration by organizers of mass gatherings in the context of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)outbreak. Examples of Mass Gatherings include:

• Sporting events e.g football matches, betting
• Religious events e.g Prayer congregations, crusades, pilgrimages etc
• Social/Cultural events e.g funerals, weddings
• Political events e.g rallies, campaigns, national events

• Notify the Ministry of Health / District Health Office before the event.
• Allow inspection and risk assessment by Ministry of Health or local health authorities.
• Designate a focal person to coordinate health and safety measures.
• Ensure provision of adequate hand washing facilities with clean water and soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Ensure installation of thermoscanners or provision of temperature guns to measure temperature of the participants. Any participant with a temperature above 38 degrees must be isolated for further investigation

• Organisers should plan for cleaning and disinfecting frequently used communal places (like bathroom and toilet surfaces) and frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs/handles, car doors and elevator buttons with disinfectant or soap.
• Organisers should provide adequate waste management facilities (bins, cans, bin-liners and single use tissues) and properly protected/trained waste handlers.
• Organisers should advise anyone with fever, cough and any other of the above symptoms to avoid/leave the gathering immediately and seek medical attention.

1. Isolate the individual immediately.
2. Notify health authorities immediately.
3. Restrict unnecessary movement around the individual.
4. Disinfect affected areas.
5. Support safe evacuation to a health facility.

The following Mandatory facilities must be in place at all Mass Gathering sites;

1. Toilets/latrines: 1 stance for every 20 participants
2. Screening point / health desk equipped with a thermoscanner or temperature gun. At least 05 Infrared thermometers for temperature screening
3. Hand washing facilities: Running water and soap
4. Waste management facilities

1. Adequate ventilation with proper air circulation
2. An isolation tent/room with Health workers to monitor any participant that shows Ebola like symptoms.
3. Access to evacuation facilities for sick participants like ambulances
4. First aid kits

1. Provide handwashing facilities with clean water and soap at entry and exit points.
2. Display Ebola prevention educational materials in English and local languages.
3. Maintain proper ventilation.
4. Discourage handshakes and physical contact.
5. Encourage at least an arm’s length distance between worshippers.

1. Avoid touching congregants during prayers.
2. Avoid shaking hands with the congregants
3. Avoid laying hands on worshippers.
4. Encourage sick persons to remain home and seek medical care.

1. Isolate anyone who develops symptoms.
2. In the event that a worshipper vomits, avoid direct contact with the vomit or any other body fluids.
3. Clean the area with disinfectant like Jik while donning protective gear to avoid contact or contamination.
4. Inform health authorities immediately.

1. Ensure availability of handwashing facilities with soap and clean water or an alcohol based sanitizer at all entry points.
2. Display educational materials in English and local languages.
3. Maintain clean and regularly disinfected toilets.
4. Ensure regular cleaning of market surfaces and stalls with disinfectants such as Jik or use soap and clean water.
5. Provide adequate waste disposal facilities such as dustbins.

1. Wash hands regularly with soap and clean water.
2. Avoid handshakes and unnecessary physical contact.
3. Do not attend the market when sick.
4. Immediately report suspected cases.

• Conduct temperature screening using a temperature gun or thermoscanner where feasible at market entrances.

• Taxis
• Buses
• Boda bodas
• Ferries
• Boats

1. Ensure handwashing facilities with soap and clean water or an alcohol based hand sanitizer at the entry points of the transport boarding points .e.g. taxi parks, bus parks, ferry loading site, boat docking site, train station,
2. Place hand sanitizers inside buses, taxis, trains, boats.
3. Display Ebola prevention messages in English and local languages.
4. Clean and disinfect vehicles regularly with Jik.

1. Screen passengers for temperature using a thermoscanner or temperature gun at major entry points where feasible.
2. Persons with Ebola-like symptoms should not be allowed to travel.