Kenya has recorded its first Ebola death after a Kenyan man who had been living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) died following his return home, the country’s health minister announced on Tuesday.
The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak in mid-May. The highly lethal disease has claimed more than 15,000 lives across Africa over the past five decades.
Kenya had never previously reported an Ebola case. Neighbouring Uganda, however, recorded 20 cases—almost all involving people who had travelled from the DRC—and two deaths before being declared Ebola-free in August.
The Kenyan man, whose name has not been released, became ill about a month ago and received treatment in the DRC, Health Minister Aden Duale told reporters. He later travelled overland to Kampala, Uganda, before flying to Nairobi on 3 October.
Duale said the man experienced “fever, chills, intense fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing, sore throat and bleeding under the skin at the injection sites”.
The man was subsequently screened and tested positive for Ebola. Duale said he “regrettably passed on last night at around 1130” in the evening (2030 GMT).
Authorities identified 28 contacts, including relatives and healthcare workers. So far, Duale said, “only one test has turned positive and is the one that we have just discussed”.
Officials were also tracking 23 passengers and four crew members who shared the flight with the man. Duale said quarantine arrangements had been prepared for those considered at risk, adding: “I wish to assure the public not to panic, as all systems are in place to mitigate the spread of the disease.”
A “safe and dignified burial” was scheduled for later in the day in accordance with public health standards, Duale said. He provided no further details.
The World Health Organization reported that, as of 2 October, the DRC had recorded 4,082 deaths among 8,463 cases since the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola emerged there. No vaccine or specific treatment is currently available for the strain.
The latest outbreak began in the north-eastern province of Ituri and has since spread to seven provinces across the country’s north and east.
The virus has spread through unstable parts of the vast central African nation, where armed conflict, violence and severe resource shortages have complicated efforts to contain the disease.
Médecins Sans Frontières warned on Monday of an “alarming surge” in Ebola cases in eastern North Kivu province, which shares a border with Uganda.
Earlier this year, Kenyans reacted angrily to government plans to establish an Ebola facility at Laikipia airbase, located about 125 miles from Nairobi.
