Kenya confirms its first Ebola death as a returning citizen from DR Congo succumbs to the virus

Kenya has recorded its first-ever Ebola death. The victim was a Kenyan citizen who had lived in DR Congo for seven years. He died at approximately 23:30 local time on Monday.

Health Minister Aden Duale announced the case at a news conference on Tuesday. The patient had fallen ill about a month ago and was treated in several hospitals in DR Congo before travelling overland by road to Kampala, then flying to Nairobi. Doctors suspected a viral haemorrhagic fever based on his symptoms and travel history, and the sample tested positive for the Bundibugyo species of Ebola.

The patient exhibited fever, chills, intense fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing, and bleeding under the skin. He was taken to Nairobi Hospital and isolated before being transferred to an isolation facility built during the Covid-19 pandemic. He was buried on Tuesday in line with public health safety protocols.

Contact tracing underway

Authorities have identified 28 contacts, including family members and healthcare workers. A further 23 passengers who travelled on the same flight are being traced, along with four crew members from that flight. Patrick Amoth, director-general of the Kenyan Ministry of Health, said the contacts will remain in isolation for 21 days and will be released if they test negative for the virus.

DR Congo’s worst outbreak

The current outbreak is DR Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak and was officially declared on May 15. More than 4,000 people have died, with confirmed cases surpassing 8,300 across seven provinces. The outbreak began in Ituri province and spread to seven provinces in the country’s north and east. The World Health Organization has warned the epidemic is far from over and on track to surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, which killed more than 11,000 people primarily in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Uganda recorded cases and two deaths earlier in the year but was declared Ebola-free in August. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment. There are four vaccines in development, with human trials for one launched in July.

Like fighting a megafire

MSF warned of a surge in North Kivu province, which now accounts for approximately 40% of all new Ebola cases, compared with 24% at the end of August. The wider Butembo health zone is home to around 2 million people and has only four Ebola treatment centres. North Kivu experienced 134 violent incidents in the past month, more than any other province, according to ACLED. The response in DR Congo has been hindered by conflict and instability involving armed groups. “It is like fighting a megafire,” said Stephanie Hoffmann, MSF coordinator at the Butembo Ebola treatment centre. “Multiple outbreaks are developing at the same time, with varying intensity and in different locations.”

Kenya has stepped up surveillance at airports and border crossings. Duale urged Kenyans not to panic, saying all systems are in place to mitigate the spread.