Kenya Confirms First Ebola Death, Traces Contacts After Patient Arrives From Congo

Kenya confirmed its first imported Ebola case and death on Tuesday, October 6, after a Kenyan citizen who had traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo died in Nairobi.

The patient, who had lived in Congo for seven years, fell ill about a month ago and received treatment in the DRC. He traveled overland to Kampala, Uganda, then boarded Jambojet flight JM8523 from Entebbe to Nairobi on Saturday, October 3. He died late Monday, October 5, at Nairobi Hospital after testing positive for the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment.

Kenyan Health Minister Aden Duale announced the death, urging the public to remain calm and vigilant while stating that measures are in place to mitigate the disease's spread. President William Ruto directed the National Security Council Committee to assess Kenya's Ebola situation and recommend additional measures. Authorities have quarantined eight family members and 21 healthcare workers who attended to the patient.

They are also tracing passengers and crew from the flight; 27 passengers have been identified and contacted, while other reports indicate efforts to trace 23 passengers and four crew members, or 57 other contacts. As of October 6, Kenya had screened 652,584 travelers and tested 267 samples, with only the deceased patient testing positive. Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya expressed solidarity with Kenya and questioned why the patient, despite being sick for a month, passed through multiple cities in the DRC and Uganda without detection.

Kaseya stated that the Ebola outbreak in Congo is creating new hot spots, with over 70% of new cases coming from outside known contacts and at least 60% of deaths occurring outside treatment centers. North Kivu province now accounts for around 40% of all newly confirmed cases in Congo. Doctors Without Borders project coordinator Stephanie Hoffmann described the response in Congo as chaotic due to a lack of coordination and actors. Congo's deadliest Ebola outbreak, declared in May, has recorded over 8,500 cases and more than 4,000 deaths, making it the fastest-growing outbreak on record.