Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus, with the patient dying while receiving treatment in Nairobi, the Ministry of Health has announced.
In a press release dated October 6, 2026, the Ministry said the deceased was a Kenyan citizen who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for seven years.
He fell ill about a month ago and received treatment at several health facilities in the DRC before travelling back to Kenya.
The patient travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala, Uganda, before boarding Jambo Jet flight KQ8523 to Nairobi.
He arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Saturday, October 3, at 1:10 p.m.
He underwent routine screening at the airport before being transported by a relative to a Nairobi hospital.
He was subsequently isolated after presenting with fever, chills, severe fatigue and weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing, sore throat and bleeding under the skin at injection sites.
Doctors suspected viral haemorrhagic fever because of his symptoms and recent travel history.
Samples tested positive for Bundibugyo Ebola virus at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory (NVRL) and KEMRI.
The patient was placed on supportive treatment but died on Monday night, according to the Ministry.
55 people being tracedHealth authorities have so far identified 28 contacts of the deceased, including relatives and healthcare workers who attended to him.
The Ministry is also pursuing 23 passengers and four crew members who travelled on the same flight with the deceased.
Authorities said arrangements were underway to quarantine individuals considered at risk as contact-tracing efforts continue.
Kenya has stepped up surveillance at points of entry, with the Ministry reporting that 652,584 travellers had been screened as of October 6 since heightened Ebola surveillance began in May 2026.
A total of 267 samples have been tested at five laboratories, including NVRL, KEMRI laboratories in Nairobi and Kisumu, and mobile laboratories deployed at the Busia and Lwakhakha border points.
The Ministry said only one test had returned positive—the deceased patient’s sample.
The government has also trained 4,971 healthcare workers at national and sub-national levels on Ebola prevention and management and notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of the confirmed case.
Health authorities have urged Kenyans not to panic, saying measures are in place to contain potential transmission.
The public has been advised to wash hands frequently or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser, avoid close contact with people who are sick, particularly those arriving from countries reporting Ebola transmission, and seek care at recognised health facilities if they develop symptoms.
The Ministry has also urged Kenyans to report suspected cases to the nearest health facility and obtain information through official Ministry of Health channels or the 719 toll-free hotline.
