Kenya's first Ebola patient dies at a Nairobi hospital
The Ministry of Health has confirmed Kenya's first imported case of Ebola (Bundibugyo) Virus Disease. The patient, a Kenyan citizen, died on Monday night.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale during a presser this morning said the man had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the past seven years. He fell ill about a month ago and was treated in several hospitals there.
The man travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala, then boarded Jambo Jet flight 8523. He landed in Nairobi at 1.10 pm on Saturday, October 3, and went through the normal public health screening at the Port Health and immigration desk.
A relative and a friend drove him from JKIA to Nairobi Hospital in a Toyota Fielder. He was quickly isolated in a separate room at the hospital's Accident and Emergency department, then moved to its East Wing Isolation Facility.
He arrived with fever, chills, intense fatigue and weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing, a sore throat, and bleeding under the skin at injection sites.
The doctor suspected Viral Haemorrhagic Fever because of his symptoms and his travel history to the DRC, and took a sample. It tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratory.
He was given supportive treatment but died. His burial is planned for later on Tuesday under the Ebola safe and dignified burial protocols.
The Ministry has listed 28 contacts of the deceased, including family members and the health workers who attended to him. “We are also pursuing 23 other passengers and four crew members who were on the same flight, arrangements to quarantine those at risk is ongoing,” Duale said.
He adds: “Kenya has been on high alert since the outbreak began in May 2026.”
As of Tuesday, the Ministry has screened 652,584 travellers, tested 267 samples across five laboratories: the National Virology Reference Laboratory, KEMRI Nairobi, KEMRI Kisumu, and two mobile labs at the Busia and Lwakhakha (Bungoma) borders. About 4,971 health workers at national and county levels hav been trained.
"Only one test has turned positive," the release states. The Ministry has also notified the World Health Organization under the International Health Regulations.
"I wish to reassure the public not to panic, as all systems are in place to mitigate the spread of the disease," Duale said.
The Ministry urged Kenyans to wash their hands often or use alcohol rubs, avoid close contact with sick people coming from countries with active Ebola transmission, and seek care at a recognised health facility if unwell. People should report anyone known to be unwell to the nearest facility.
Health workers have been advised to keep the highest infection prevention and control standards regardless of the condition they are treating.
“The public can get information from official Ministry of Health platforms or the toll-free line 719. We will keep updating Kenyans."
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