Kenya's Ministry of Health has confirmed the country's first imported case of Ebola, specifically the Bundibugyo strain. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the case on Tuesday, stating that the patient was a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the past seven years. The patient had traveled from DRC to Kampala by road before boarding a Jambojet flight, which landed in Nairobi on Saturday, October 3.
According to CS Duale, the patient fell ill about a month ago and was treated at several hospitals while still in DRC. The patient underwent routine public health screening at Port Health, JKIA, before clearing immigration. He was then picked up by a relative and a friend, who drove him directly from the airport to Nairobi Hospital in a Toyota Fielder. At the hospital, staff immediately isolated him in a separate room within the Accident and Emergency department.
The patient was later transferred to the East Wing Isolation Facility, a unit built during the Covid-19 pandemic, fully equipped with ICU and HDU capacity, alongside more than 145 beds. Unfortunately, the patient was given supportive treatment but passed away last night at 11:30 pm. Arrangements for a safe and dignified burial are ongoing, planned for later today in line with Ebola safe and dignified public health protocols.
The patient had traveled to Nairobi on Jambojet flight number 8523, which landed at 1:10 pm on Saturday, October 3. The flight and travel history of the patient are being investigated to determine potential contacts. Kenya's Ministry of Health has initiated contact tracing, with over 50 people being monitored.
The US government has expressed its commitment to supporting countries and organizations fighting the Ebola outbreak in the East African region. In May, the US Department of State disclosed that it had approved an additional KSh 10.3 billion emergency funding package to partners for response to the Ebola outbreak. The program aims to enhance border screenings, surveillance, and contact tracing.
The Ebola outbreak in DRC has resulted in violent attacks on individuals promoting prevention efforts. Marie-Celestin Karondwa Mwanaweka, acting president of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress federal executive committee in Butembo, died on September 27, 2026, after a violent attack in the Vulindi area. Karondwa was attacked after attending a radio show program where he cautioned residents to take seriously the threat posed by the Ebola virus.
Kenya's Ministry of Health, led by CS Duale, is working to contain the spread of the virus. The government has launched contact tracing efforts, and the situation is being closely monitored. The Kenyan public is being urged to remain vigilant and take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.
Key points
- The patient, a Kenyan citizen, had been living in DRC for seven years before traveling to Nairobi, where he tested positive for Ebola.
- The US government has approved an additional KSh 10.3 billion emergency funding package to support Ebola response efforts in the East African region.
- Kenya's Ministry of Health has initiated contact tracing efforts, with over 50 people being monitored after coming into contact with the patient.
