Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Ebola after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo died in Nairobi, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said on Tuesday.
The man had lived in DRC for seven years and became ill about a month before returning to Kenya, according to the health ministry. He received treatment at several health facilities in DRC before travelling by road to neighbouring Uganda.
He later flew from Uganda to Kenya on a Jambojet flight carrying 23 passengers, landing at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at about 1:10 pm local time (1010 GMT) on Saturday, October 3.
The ministry said the patient underwent routine public health screening at the airport before clearing immigration. Relatives and friends then took him directly to Nairobi Hospital, where he was immediately isolated.
He subsequently tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola and died.
Over two dozen contacts identified
Health authorities have identified 28 people who had contact with the deceased, including family members and health workers, as officials work to prevent further transmission.
The man’s journey through DRC and Uganda, his commercial flight to Nairobi and subsequent contact with relatives and medical staff are now part of the government’s contact-tracing operation.
Kenya had already strengthened disease surveillance at airports and land border crossings in response to the Ebola outbreak in DRC, including measures to improve screening, laboratory capacity and preparedness at health facilities.
Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, or through contaminated materials.
Health authorities are monitoring the identified contacts for symptoms as surveillance continues following confirmation of the country’s first imported case.
