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Kenya has moved to contain a potential Ebola threat after the country recorded its first case, with 28 people already identified as contacts of the deceased patient.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed that the patient died at Nairobi Hospital at about 11:30pm on Monday while receiving supportive treatment.
Passengers From Flight Being Traced
Duale said arrangements had been made to quarantine people considered to have been at risk as health officials work to prevent possible transmission.
The patient had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo for seven years and reportedly became ill about one month before returning to Kenya.
He travelled from the DRC to Kampala by road before boarding a Jambojet flight that arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Saturday.
Patient Was Quickly Isolated
After undergoing routine screening at JKIA, the patient was taken directly to Nairobi Hospital by a relative and a friend.
He was isolated in the Accident and Emergency department before being transferred to the hospital’s East Wing isolation facility, which had been equipped during the Covid-19 period.
The patient developed symptoms including fever, chills, severe fatigue, muscle pain, painful swallowing and a sore throat.
Tests conducted by the National Virology Reference Laboratory and KEMRI confirmed Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease.
A safe and dignified burial was being arranged under Ebola public health protocols as authorities intensified surveillance and contact tracing.
The Ministry has urged Kenyans to remain calm while health officials work to establish whether anyone else has been infected.
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