Nairobi: Kenya has confirmed its first case of Ebola after a Kenyan citizen who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda died in Nairobi, prompting health authorities to begin contact tracing and monitor people who may have been exposed.
The patient had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo for seven years and became ill about a month before travelling to Kenya. He received treatment at several health facilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo before travelling by road to Kampala in Uganda and later flying to Nairobi.
The man arrived in Nairobi on October 3 on Jambojet flight JM8523 from Entebbe. He was taken to Nairobi Hospital after developing symptoms including fever, chills, severe weakness, muscle pain, a sore throat and painful swallowing. Health officials later confirmed that he had Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
The patient died at about 11.30 pm on October 5. Kenyan authorities said arrangements were being made for a safe and dignified burial in line with measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the case was imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo and that the government had activated contact tracing and other response measures.
The Kenyan government has identified 28 people who had contact with the patient, including family members and health workers. Authorities are also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who travelled on the same flight from Entebbe to Nairobi.
Health officials are working to determine whether any of those people had been exposed to the virus. There is currently no confirmed case of secondary Ebola transmission in Kenya.
Kenya had already strengthened its Ebola preparedness after the outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this year. The Kenyan government said that since May it had screened more than 652,000 travellers, tested 267 samples and used five laboratories as part of its disease surveillance efforts.
The government also said that 4,971 health workers had received training related to Ebola preparedness and response.
The Kenyan case comes as the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to face a major Ebola outbreak. The outbreak has recorded more than 8,000 confirmed cases and more than 4,000 deaths and has affected seven provinces.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a type of Ebola virus first identified in Uganda. It is the largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak recorded in the history of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The outbreak has been made more difficult by insecurity, population movement and challenges in reaching communities affected by the disease. Health workers and international organisations have continued efforts to trace infections, isolate patients and provide medical care.
The outbreak has also led to cases outside the Democratic Republic of Congo. Uganda previously reported cases linked to the outbreak, but its Ebola outbreak was declared over on August 27 after 42 days without a new confirmed case. France also recorded an imported case linked to the outbreak.
The patient's journey through Kampala is now part of the regional contact tracing effort, but there is no confirmed new Ebola case in Uganda linked to this patient.
The Bundibugyo virus does not currently have an approved vaccine or specific treatment. Patients can receive supportive medical care, while researchers and health organisations are studying vaccines and experimental treatments.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of an infected person, including after death.
The confirmation of Kenya's first case highlights the continuing risk of cross border transmission while the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains active. Kenyan health authorities are now focused on identifying people who may have been exposed to the deceased patient and preventing further spread in the country.