Africa CDC Confirms Kenya's First Ebola Case from DRC

A suspected Ebola case that became Kenya's first confirmed infection traveled through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda before reaching Nairobi, where the patient died. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), reported that the patient crossed into Uganda on October 1 and arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on October 3 aboard JumboJet flight 8523.

Upon arrival, the patient exhibited symptoms including fever, sore throat, muscle pain, and bleeding. A sample tested positive for Ebola on October 5, and the patient died later that day.

A safe burial was conducted on October 6. Kaseya stated that Kenya is not experiencing an Ebola outbreak, as it is an imported case.

Following the confirmation, Kenya activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and national Ebola response plan. The DRC, Uganda, and Kenya are collaborating to trace the patient's movements and identify potential exposures.