Kenya has officially confirmed its first imported case of Ebola, according to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. The patient, a Kenyan citizen who had resided in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for seven years, passed away in Nairobi after testing positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
The health ministry reported that the man fell ill approximately one month before his return to Kenya. During his time in the DRC, he sought treatment at multiple health facilities before traveling by road to neighbouring Uganda. On Saturday, October 3, he boarded a Jambojet flight from Uganda to Kenya. The flight, which carried 23 passengers, arrived at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at approximately 1:10 pm local time (1010 GMT).
Upon arrival, the man underwent routine public health screenings at the airport before clearing immigration. He was then transported directly to Nairobi Hospital by relatives and friends, where he was immediately placed into isolation. Despite medical intervention, he subsequently died.
In response to the case, government officials have launched an extensive contact-tracing operation. Authorities have identified 28 individuals who had direct contact with the deceased, including family members and healthcare workers. These contacts are currently being monitored for symptoms as part of an effort to contain the spread of the virus. Ebola is known to be transmitted through direct contact with an infected person's blood, bodily fluids, or contaminated materials.
Prior to this incident, Kenya had already bolstered its disease surveillance at both airports and land border crossings in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC. These measures included enhanced screening protocols, improved laboratory capacity, and increased preparedness across various health facilities.
