The Ministry of Health has officially confirmed Kenya’s first imported case of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease, following the death of a patient at Nairobi Hospital.
In a formal press statement issued on Tuesday, October 6, Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale revealed that the deceased—a Kenyan citizen who had been residing in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for the past seven years—succumbed to the viral infection on Monday evening.
According to official medical timelines, the patient initially fell ill in the DRC approximately a month ago and sought care across several medical facilities. He subsequently traveled by road to Kampala, Uganda, before boarding Jambojet flight number 8523 to Nairobi on Saturday, October 3. Upon landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 1:10 PM, he underwent routine health screening before being picked up by family members in a private vehicle (KDG 699Z Toyota Fielder) and taken directly to Nairobi Hospital.
Upon arrival at the emergency department, doctors observed classic symptoms of viral hemorrhagic fever, including high fever, chills, severe fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat, and bleeding under the skin at injection sites. The patient was isolated in the facility’s East Wing Isolation Unit, where blood samples submitted to the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the KEMRI laboratories both confirmed positive for the Bundibugyo Ebola strain.
“The patient was given supportive treatment but regrettably passed on last night,” [Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale stated]. “Arrangements for safe and dignified burial of the deceased are ongoing today in line with Ebola burial protocols.”
The Ministry of Health has listed 28 primary contacts—comprising family members and attending healthcare workers—and is actively tracing 27 individuals (23 passengers and 4 crew members) who shared the flight from Kampala. Quarantine arrangements are being finalized to prevent community transmission.
CS Duale reassured the public that national surveillance and response systems remain on high alert. Since the regional outbreak began in May 2026, health authorities have screened over 650,000 travelers and tested 267 suspected samples across five diagnostic laboratories, with only this single case testing positive. Additionally, nearly 5,000 health personnel have been trained in infection control and management.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has been formally notified under International Health Regulations. Members of the public have been advised to maintain strict hand hygiene, report unwell individuals to the nearest medical center, and seek verified information via the government’s toll-free line, 719.