Kenya Reports First-Ever Ebola Death After Patient Arrives From DR Congo

Kenya has reported its first confirmed Ebola case and first Ebola-related death after a Kenyan man who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, died in Nairobi.

Health Minister Aden Duale announced the development on Tuesday, saying the man had fallen ill about a month ago and received treatment in the DRC before travelling overland to Kampala, Uganda, and later flying to Nairobi on October 3.

The patient was screened after arriving in Kenya and tested positive for Ebola. Duale said he died at about 11:30pm on Monday.

Kenyan health authorities have identified 28 people who had contact with the deceased, including family members and healthcare workers. Duale said one additional test had so far returned positive, although authorities are continuing surveillance and contact tracing.

The minister urged Kenyans not to panic, saying the government had activated measures to prevent further transmission and was monitoring people who may have been exposed.

The case is linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC, where the Bundibugyo virus has spread across multiple provinces. WHO reported nearly 7,900 confirmed cases and 3,799 confirmed deaths in the DRC as of September 23, with the outbreak expanding geographically and posing a growing risk of cross-border transmission.

The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which WHO says there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Response measures include rapid case identification, isolation, contact tracing, safe burials and community engagement.

Kenya had previously not recorded an Ebola case. The development comes after concerns earlier in the year over government plans to establish an Ebola preparedness facility at Laikipia Air Base.

Kenyan authorities are now focusing on monitoring the identified contacts and preventing further transmission as investigations continue. The World Health Organization has warned that the continuing spread of Ebola in the DRC increases the risk of additional international transmission.