Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Ebola after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for seven years died in Nairobi.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed the development on Tuesday, October 6, saying the patient had tested positive for the Bundibugyo virus disease, a strain of Ebola currently responsible for a major outbreak in the DRC.
The patient fell ill about a month ago while in the DRC, where he sought treatment at several health facilities before travelling by road to Kampala, Uganda.
From Kampala, he boarded Jambojet flight 8523 and arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi at about 1:10pm on Saturday, October 3.
According to Duale, the traveller underwent routine public health screening at JKIA before being taken directly from the airport to Nairobi Hospital by a relative and a friend.
He was isolated shortly after arriving at the hospital after presenting with symptoms that raised concern among doctors.
Patient developed severe symptoms
The Health CS said the patient had experienced fever, chills, intense fatigue and weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing, a sore throat and bleeding beneath the skin at injection sites.
Doctors suspected a viral haemorrhagic fever because of the symptoms and his recent travel history to the DRC.
Samples were subsequently tested at Kenya’s National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), with both laboratories confirming Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease.
The patient was placed under isolation and received supportive treatment but died on Monday night.
Authorities are preparing for a safe and dignified burial in accordance with public health protocols.
Health officials trace contacts
Following the confirmation, the Ministry of Health immediately intensified contact tracing.
Duale said 28 contacts linked to the deceased had already been identified, including relatives and healthcare workers who interacted with him.
Authorities are also attempting to trace 23 passengers and four crew members who travelled on the same Jambojet flight from Kampala to Nairobi.
People considered to have had significant exposure are being followed up and arrangements are being made to quarantine those deemed to be at risk.
The case has heightened attention on Kenya’s border and airport surveillance systems, particularly because the patient travelled through Uganda before entering the country.
Kenya had been monitoring Ebola outbreak
The confirmation comes months after the DRC declared a new Ebola outbreak in May 2026.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola for which there is no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment.
The World Health Organization has noted that early supportive care can significantly improve outcomes.
The outbreak has since expanded significantly.
By early October, the DRC had reported more than 8,400 confirmed cases and over 4,000 deaths, with Ituri and North Kivu among the worst-affected areas.
Uganda, which shares a border with the DRC, also reported imported Ebola cases earlier in the year before declaring itself Ebola-free in August.
The experience demonstrated the importance of cross-border surveillance in preventing further transmission.
Thousands of travellers screened in Kenya
Duale said Kenya had maintained a high level of preparedness since the outbreak was first reported in the DRC.
As of October 6, health authorities had screened 652,584 travellers and tested 267 samples through five laboratories, including facilities operated by KEMRI in Nairobi and Kisumu.
Two mobile laboratories have also been deployed at the Busia and Lwakhakha border points to strengthen surveillance along Kenya’s western border.
The government says 4,971 healthcare workers at national and county levels have been trained on Ebola prevention and management.
The Ministry has also notified the World Health Organization about the confirmed case in accordance with international health regulations.
Government urges Kenyans not to panic
Despite confirming the country’s first Ebola case, the government has sought to reassure the public that measures are in place to prevent wider transmission.
Duale urged Kenyans to remain calm while observing basic health precautions, including regular handwashing and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
Members of the public have also been advised to avoid close contact with people who are unwell and have recently travelled from countries experiencing active Ebola transmission.
Health workers have been urged to maintain strict infection-prevention and control measures when handling patients, regardless of the illness they are suspected of having.
The Ministry has emphasised that the confirmed case remains linked to travel from the DRC, with investigations and contact tracing ongoing.
For now, health officials are concentrating on identifying everyone who may have been exposed to the deceased and monitoring them closely in an effort to prevent the imported case from developing into wider community transmission.
The development nevertheless marks a significant moment for Kenya’s public health system, as the country confronts its first confirmed Ebola case and death amid an ongoing regional outbreak.
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