Overview
- The Ministry of Health confirmed on Tuesday that a Kenyan national who flew from Entebbe to Nairobi on Saturday, October 3, tested positive for Bundibugyo Ebola and subsequently died in hospital.
- KEMRI’s National Virology Reference Laboratory verified the diagnosis and officials have identified 28 close contacts including family and health workers for immediate follow-up.
- Authorities are tracing an additional 23 passengers and four crew who were on Jambojet flight JM8523 and have set up 21-day monitoring and quarantine procedures for people with potential exposure.
- Bundibugyo is the strain driving the large DRC outbreak and has no licensed vaccine or specific approved treatment, so Kenya’s response centers on early detection, isolation, contact tracing, infection control and safe burial practices.
- The case highlights cross-border transmission risks from the expanding DRC epidemic and could widen surveillance and screening at land and air border points as health teams watch for any new symptomatic cases during the coming 21 days.