Kenya has confirmed its first case and death from Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease (BDBV) after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for seven years died in Nairobi.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the patient arrived in Kenya on October 3 after falling ill about a month earlier while in the DRC, where he sought treatment at several health facilities.
The patient travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala, Uganda, before flying to Nairobi aboard Jambojet flight 8523.
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), he underwent routine public health screening before being transported by a relative and a friend to Nairobi Hospital.
The patient was isolated at the hospital’s emergency department before being transferred to an isolation facility in the East Wing, which had previously been used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The facility has more than 145 beds and is equipped to manage patients requiring isolation and specialised care.
According to Duale, the patient presented with symptoms including fever, intense fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing, sore throat and bleeding beneath the skin at the site of an injection.
Doctors suspected a viral haemorrhagic fever and collected samples for laboratory testing.
The tests subsequently returned positive for Ebola.
Despite receiving supportive treatment, the patient died on Monday at approximately 11:30pm.
His burial is expected to take place later on Tuesday in accordance with public health protocols for Ebola cases.
Kenya tracing contacts
The Ministry of Health has identified 28 people who had direct contact with the deceased and is conducting contact tracing as part of measures to contain any possible spread.
Authorities are also pursuing 23 passengers and four crew members who were aboard Jambojet flight 8523 with the patient.
Duale said arrangements had been made to quarantine people considered to be at risk.
The move is intended to allow health authorities to monitor contacts for possible symptoms and prevent further transmission should additional cases emerge.
The confirmation comes as Kenya strengthens surveillance following the patient’s travel history from the DRC through Uganda and into Nairobi.
Ebola is a severe viral disease that can cause serious illness and death. Early identification, isolation, contact tracing and appropriate infection prevention measures are central to limiting transmission.
The Ministry of Health has not indicated that community transmission has occurred in Kenya.
Health authorities are expected to provide further updates on the contact-tracing exercise and any additional cases as investigations continue.
The patient’s movement through multiple locations and contact with other travellers has prompted health authorities to intensify monitoring of people who may have been exposed.
Kenya’s health system has previously developed isolation and response capacity during infectious disease outbreaks, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Authorities are now applying similar preparedness and infection-control measures as they respond to the confirmed Ebola case.
SEO headline: Kenya confirms first Ebola Bundibugyo case as patient dies in Nairobi
Meta description: Kenya confirms its first Ebola Bundibugyo virus case after a Kenyan who lived in DRC died in Nairobi. Health authorities are tracing 28 contacts.
