Kenya has confirmed its first case of Ebola, with the Ministry of Health announcing that a Kenyan national has tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain.
The patient, who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo for seven years, fell ill about a month ago and was treated at several hospitals in the DRC.
He later travelled by road to Kampala before flying to Nairobi aboard a Jambojet flight on Saturday, October 3.
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the patient was screened and later admitted to an isolation unit at Nairobi Hospital.
Doctors suspected a viral haemorrhagic fever after he developed fever, chills, fatigue, and bleeding beneath the skin.
Samples sent to the National Virology Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute tested positive for Ebola.
The patient died last night despite receiving supportive care.
Health authorities have now launched contact-tracing efforts, with 28 contacts identified so far, including family members and healthcare workers.
The Ministry is also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who were aboard the Jambojet flight from Kampala to Nairobi.
TRAVEL TIMELINE
DRC → Kampala by road
Kampala → Nairobi by Jambojet
Arrival at JKIA → Saturday, October 3
Isolation → Nairobi Hospital
The Ministry of Health says 23 isolation centres are active nationwide, while safe burial protocols have been activated following the patient's death.
Kenyans have been urged to remain calm, avoid contact with bodily fluids, and report any suspected symptoms or possible exposure to health authorities immediately.
Contact tracing, surveillance, and monitoring of identified contacts are ongoing as the government moves to contain any possible spread of the virus.