NAIROBI, October 14— Kenya has confirmed a second case of Bundibugyo virus disease, a form of Ebola, after a 39-year-old close family member of the country’s first patient tested positive.
The Ministry of Health said the patient was already in quarantine as a contact of the first case when he developed fever, fatigue, and joint pain on the evening of October 13.
Samples tested positive at the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-CDC laboratory. He was subsequently transferred to a designated treatment centre in Nairobi for supportive care.
Kenya’s first confirmed patient died on October 5 following an infection linked to travel from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where an outbreak has been reported.
Health authorities say the two cases are linked, with no evidence of wider community transmission.
The Ministry said 128 contacts had been identified in connection with the first case. Of these, 113 had been traced, while efforts to locate the remaining 15 were ongoing. A total of 108 contacts were in quarantine in Kenya, while five were outside the country, and the relevant authorities had been notified.
Surveillance has also been intensified at key border points, including Busia, Malaba, and Namanga, to support early detection and prevent further spread.
The World Health Organization says Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people who have developed symptoms or through contaminated objects. Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, with an incubation period of two to 21 days.
Health officials are urging the public to avoid contact with bodily fluids of suspected cases, practise good hand hygiene, and seek prompt medical attention if symptoms develop after possible exposure.
Members of the public can call the Ministry of Health’s toll-free information line, 719, for guidance.
Authorities say continued surveillance and contact tracing remain critical as Kenya works to contain the outbreak.