Kenya has confirmed its first Ebola case after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo became ill and later died in Nairobi, triggering an urgent contact-tracing operation.
The patient had spent about seven years in Congo and became sick roughly a month before travelling by road to Kampala, Uganda. He then flew to Nairobi, arriving on Saturday. After reaching the Kenyan capital, relatives took him to a hospital, where he was isolated after showing symptoms including fever, weakness and bleeding. He died on Monday.
Kenyan health authorities have identified 28 people who had contact with the patient, including relatives and healthcare workers. Officials are also trying to locate 23 passengers and four crew members who travelled on the same flight from Uganda to Kenya.
The case is linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo. The World Health Organization’s latest figures recorded 8,544 confirmed cases and 4,114 confirmed deaths in Congo as of October 3, with the outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
Kenya has increased surveillance at border points and is strengthening its response to prevent further transmission. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has also sent a specialist team to support Kenyan authorities.
The development is particularly significant because Kenya had not previously recorded an Ebola case. Uganda, which had reported cases earlier in the outbreak, was declared Ebola-free in August.
Health officials are now concentrating on identifying everyone who may have been exposed and monitoring contacts during the incubation period. The patient is also expected to be buried under strict public-health procedures designed to reduce the risk of transmission.
The new case has raised fresh concerns about the ability of the outbreak to cross borders, particularly as people continue travelling between Congo, Uganda and Kenya. WHO says it is supporting the affected governments and has advised against imposing travel restrictions on countries affected by the outbreak.
