US says travelers should reconsider trips to Kenya amid Ebola risk

WASHINGTON- The US State Department said on Monday it has asked Americans to reconsider any travel to Kenya and raised its travel advisory for the African nation due to health risks.

"The level was changed from Level 2 to Level 3 due to health risks," the travel advisory by the US embassy in Kenya said.

The advisory was raised to level 3, which asks Americans to reconsider travel, from an earlier level 2 that urges increased caution.

"Reconsider travel to Kenya due to risk of health, crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest, and traffic safety. Some areas have increased risk," the advisory read.

Kenya confirmed one more Ebola case on Sunday, bringing the total number of infections in the country to eight.

Kenya has been on heightened alert, as a major Ebola outbreak centered in Congo has spread across borders in the region.

Congo confirmed on Sunday that its outbreak had spread to an eighth province, North Ubangi, underscoring concerns about wider regional transmission.

"Medical services in Kenya are limited. They are often unavailable in rural areas. Medical facilities in Kenya often lack sufficient medicine and equipment," the US travel advisory on Kenya said in its summary.

- Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese and Christian Schmollinger/Reuters