Key facts
- Kenya confirmed its first imported case of Ebola virus disease.
- The patient had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- The patient arrived in Nairobi on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
- The patient has died.
- 28 contacts have been identified so far, including family members and health workers.
Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Ebola virus disease, a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo and arrived in Nairobi on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Health Minister Aden Duale announced the case on Tuesday, October 6, stating that the patient has since died.
According to Duale, the patient had resided in the DRC for seven years and fell ill about a month prior to traveling. The patient was treated at several hospitals in the DRC before traveling to Uganda by road and then boarding a Jambo Jet flight with 23 passengers to Nairobi. Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 1:10 p.m., the patient underwent routine public health screening before proceeding through immigration. Relatives and friends then transported the patient to Nairobi Hospital, where they were immediately isolated.
Health officials have identified 28 contacts so far, including family members and healthcare workers. The Democratic Republic of Congo has been experiencing its largest-ever Ebola outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo species, which was declared in mid-May and has resulted in over 8,000 cases and more than 4,000 deaths. The outbreak had previously spread to Uganda, which reported 20 cases and two deaths before the World Health Organization declared it free of the disease in August.
Ebola is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people, living or dead, and can cause symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe bleeding.