Kenya confirms first Ebola case

Kenya confirmed its first case of Ebola on Tuesday. National Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale told reporters the victim was a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for the past seven years. He fell ill about a month ago and received treatment at several hospitals there before traveling by road to Kampala, Uganda, and later flying to Nairobi. 

The yet unidentified patient arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on October 3, after travelling from Kampala on Jambojet flight 8523. He underwent routine public health screening at the airport before being taken by a relative and a friend to Nairobi Hospital, where he was isolated and later tested positive for Ebola. Duale said the patient died at about 11:30 p.m. on Monday while receiving supportive treatment.

Authorities have so far identified 28 contacts, including family members and healthcare workers who attended to the patient. They are also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who were on the same flight.

“I wish to ensure the public not to panic as all systems are in place to mitigate the spread of the disease. The public is urged to continue with the frequent handwashing or the use of alcoholic hand rubs and avoid close contact with sick people coming from countries reporting active transmission of Ebola disease,” he said.

The case comes as the DRC grapples with the largest Ebola outbreak in its history. More than 8,000 confirmed cases and 4,082 deaths have been reported since the outbreak was declared in May, with the disease spreading across several provinces.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which there is currently no licensed vaccine or approved specific treatment. It was first detected in DRC's northeastern Ituri province before spreading to other parts of the country.

The virus also spread to Uganda, where authorities recorded 20 confirmed cases and two deaths. Fifteen of those cases were imported from the DRC, while five were linked to local transmission among contacts.

Uganda declared its outbreak over on August 26 after completing the required enhanced surveillance period without detecting further transmission.

The latest case in Kenya underscores the risk posed by cross-border movement as the virus continues to circulate in eastern DRC. The World Health Organization has previously assessed the risk of cross-border spread as high for countries bordering areas where Bundibugyo virus has been detected, citing population movement linked to trade and other activities.

Kenya had stepped up preparedness earlier this year as the outbreak spread. In June, the country strengthened surveillance, laboratory capacity, rapid response teams and isolation facilities, while Nairobi was classified among counties at very high risk because of its role as an international travel hub.

Ebola spreads primarily through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, including after death. Symptoms can include fever, vomiting and diarrhoea and, in severe cases, haemorrhagic manifestations.

Kenyan health authorities are now conducting contact tracing and surveillance as they seek to determine whether the imported case has resulted in any further infections.

(With input from wires)