International · Priscilla Asante
Kenya confirms first Ebola case as virus surges in DR Congo province
Kenya has reported its first-ever Ebola death, the health minister announced on last Tuesday, as the disease continues to spread rapidly through the North-East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, where the outbreak was announced in May this year.
This is the 17th outbreak of the highly infectious virus, often deadly disease in the DRC.
"As of 2 nd October 2026, four thousand, and 82 people had died out of eight thousand,463 confirmed cases in the country since the emergence of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is still no vaccine nor specific treatment," he said.
Kenyan Health minister, Aden Duale told the media that a Kenyan man who had been living in the DRC for seven years died after returning to Kenya.
The man, who has not been named, had been treated in the DRC after falling ill about a month ago. He then travelled overland to the Ugandan capital, Kampala, before flying to Nairobi on 3 rd of October.
Kenya has previously never reported a case of Ebola, but neighbouring Uganda recorded 20 of the Ebola cases with two deaths and they all travelled from the DRC, before being declared Ebola-free in August, this year.
"The man was taken by a relative and a friend from Nairobi’s international airport to Nairobi hospital, where he was immediately isolated, suffering from “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 confirmed positive for the virus, but regrettably passed on last night," he revealed.
He added that officials had listed 28 contacts of the deceased, including family members and healthcare workers, but so far only one test has turned positive noting that authorities were looking for 23 passengers and four crew members who were on the same flight with the man and that arrangements for quarantine for those at risk had been prepared.
The health minister said a safe and dignified burial of the man had been planned for later in the day, in line with public health standards, but did not give further details.
Kenyans reacted furiously to government plans earlier this year to allow the US to set up an Ebola facility at Laikipia airbase, about one hundred and 25 miles from Nairobi after starting in the DRC’s North-Eastern Ituri province.
The current outbreak has spread to seven provinces in the country’s North and East. The medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières warned on last Monday of an alarming surge in cases in Eastern North Kivu province, which borders Uganda.
The province now accounts for 40 percent of all new Ebola cases, compared with 24 percent at the end of August this year.