Kenya has recorded its first case of Ebola after a Kenyan citizen who lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo for seven years died at a Nairobi hospital on Monday night. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the confirmation on Tuesday, noting the patient had fallen ill about a month earlier and received treatment in several hospitals in the DRC before travelling home.
The man travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala, then boarded Jambojet flight 8523, arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Saturday at 1.10pm.
He passed routine public health screening before a relative and friend drove him directly to Nairobi Hospital, where doctors isolated him after he presented with fever, chills, intense fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat and bleeding under the skin.
Laboratory tests at the National Virology Reference Laboratory and KEMRI confirmed Ebola Bundibugyo virus. The patient received supportive treatment but died around 11.30pm on Monday.
Authorities have identified 28 contacts, including family members and healthcare workers, and are tracing 23 passengers and four crew members from the same flight for quarantine.
A safe and dignified burial is planned under strict public health protocols.
The Ministry of Health has screened hundreds of thousands of travellers since the DRC outbreak began and continues to urge the public to remain calm while following official guidance.
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