Kenya has registered its first imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease after a Kenyan national who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died after testing positive for the virus.
The Ministry of Health said the patient, who had lived in the DRC for seven years, travelled from the country by road to Kampala before boarding a flight to Nairobi.
He arrived in Nairobi on October 3 aboard flight 8523 and was immediately isolated after presenting with symptoms including fever, chills, intense fatigue, muscle pain, painful swallowing, sore throat and bleeding under the skin at injection sites.
According to the Ministry, the patient had fallen ill about a month earlier and had been treated at several hospitals while still in the DRC.
He was later transported directly from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to a Nairobi hospital by a relative, where doctors suspected a viral haemorrhagic fever and collected samples for testing.
The samples tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratory.
The patient died while receiving treatment, prompting health authorities to begin contact tracing and other measures to prevent further transmission.
The Ministry said 28 contacts of the deceased had been identified, including family members and health workers who attended to him. Authorities are also tracing 23 passengers and crew members who travelled on the same flight.
Arrangements were also being made for the safe and dignified burial of the deceased in accordance with public health standards.
Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, said the government had maintained a high level of preparedness for Ebola and assured the public that systems were in place to contain the disease.
He urged the public not to panic but to observe preventive measures, including frequent handwashing, using alcohol-based hand rubs and avoiding close contact with sick people arriving from countries reporting active Ebola transmission.
Health workers were also urged to remain vigilant and maintain high infection prevention and control standards.
The Ministry advised people who develop symptoms to seek care from recognised health facilities and report anyone known to be unwell to the nearest health facility.
It said further updates would be provided as more information becomes available.
