Kenya confirms first Ebola case, death as health officials launch contact tracing

Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease (BDBV) after a Kenyan citizen who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for seven years died while receiving treatment in Nairobi.

Addressing the media today at Afya House, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the patient fell ill about a month ago while in the DRC, where he was treated at several hospitals before travelling by road to Kampala, Uganda.

From Kampala, the patient boarded Jambojet flight 8523 and arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at about 1.10pm.

Duale said the patient underwent routine public health screening at the Port Health facility at JKIA before proceeding through immigration.

“He underwent the normal public health scrutiny at JKIA and was transported by a relative and friend from JKIA using KDG 699Z Toyota Fielder to Nairobi Hospital, where he was isolated in an emergency room,” Duale said.

The patient was initially isolated in the Accident and Emergency department before being transferred to Nairobi Hospital’s East Wing isolation facility, which was established during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The facility is equipped with intensive care and high-dependency units and has more than 145 beds.

According to the Ministry of Health, the patient presented with fever, chills, intense fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing, sore throat and bleeding under the skin at an injection site.

Given his symptoms and recent travel history, doctors suspected a viral haemorrhagic fever and collected samples for laboratory testing.

“The doctors considered his case as that of a viral hemorrhagic fever and collected samples which turned positive for Ebola,” Duale said.

He said the samples were tested at the National Virology Reference Laboratory under the National Public Health Institute and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), with both confirming Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease.

Despite being placed on supportive treatment, the patient died at about 11.30pm on Monday.

The Ministry said arrangements were being made for a safe and dignified burial in accordance with Ebola public health protocols.

Authorities have immediately launched contact tracing, identifying 28 people who interacted with the deceased.

They are also pursuing 23 passengers and four crew members who travelled on the same Jambojet flight.

“Arrangements for a quarantine of those at risk have been prepared to protect the public,” Duale said.

The government said Kenya has maintained heightened surveillance for Ebola since an outbreak began in the region in May 2026.

As of October 6, the Ministry said 652,584 travellers had been screened and 267 samples tested across five laboratories. Only one test had returned positive—the confirmed case announced by the government.

The laboratories include the National Virology Reference Laboratory, KEMRI laboratories in Nairobi and Kisumu, and two mobile laboratories deployed at the Busia and Luwahaka border points.

The Ministry has also trained 4,971 healthcare workers at national and county levels on Ebola prevention and management.

Kenya has notified the World Health Organisation (WHO) of the case in line with the International Health Regulations. The WHO Kenya country representative attended the briefing.

The Ministry urged Kenyans not to panic, saying measures were in place to contain the disease.

It advised the public to wash hands frequently, use alcohol-based hand rubs, avoid close contact with sick people arriving from countries reporting active Ebola transmission and seek treatment at recognised health facilities when unwell.

The public can obtain official information through the Ministry’s social media platforms or its toll-free 719 hotline, which has been activated to provide information on the outbreak.