Ministry of Health Statement on Ebola Case In Kenya

The Ministry of Health wishes to inform members of the public that it has confirmed the first imported case of Ebola (Bundibugyo) Virus Disease.

The patient, a Kenyan citizen who has been living in DRC for the past 7 years, fell ill about a month ago and was treated in several hospitals while still in DRC. He travelled from DRC to Kampala by road and then boarded Jambo Jet flight number 8523 and arrived in Nairobi on Saturday 3rd October 2023 at 1.10 pm. He underwent the normal public health screening at the Port health and immigration desk. He was transported by a relative and a friend directly from the JKIA using KDG 699Z Toyota Fielder to Nairobi hospital where he was quickly isolated in a separate room at the A&E in the Hospital and later transferred to the East Wing Isolation Facility. He presented with fever, chills, intense fatigue and weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing, sore throat and bleeding under the skin at injection sites.

Based on the above presentation and history of travel to DRC the doctor considered this a case of Viral Haemorrhagic Fever and collected a sample for testing which turned positive for Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the KEMRI Lab.

The patient was given supportive treatment but regrettably passed on last night. We take this opportunity to pass our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the departed. Arrangements for safe and dignified burial of the deceased are ongoing, and the burial is planned for later today in line with the Ebola safe and dignified burial protocols.

So far we have listed 28 contacts of the deceased including family members and health workers who attended to the deceased. We are also pursuing a further 23 passengers and 4 crew members who were on the same flight with the deceased. Arrangements for quarantine of those at risk to protect the public is ongoing.

I wish to reiterate that we have continued to maintain a high level of alert for Ebola since the outbreak began in May 2026. As of 6th October 2026, we have screened 652,584 travellers. We have tested 267 samples across 5 laboratories namely: National Virology Reference Laboratory (NVRL); KEMRI Nairobi; KEMRI Kisumu and two (2) mobile labs deployed at the Busia border, Busia County and Lwakhakha border in Bungoma County. Only one test has turned positive.

We have trained 4,971 health workers at both national and sub national level on Ebola prevention and management.

In line with the International Health Regulations, we have notified the World Health Organization of the event.

I wish to reassure the public not to panic, as all systems are in place to mitigate the spread of the disease.

The public is urged to continue with frequent hand washing or use alcoholic hand rubs and avoid close contact with sick people coming from countries reporting active transmission of Ebola disease. You are reminded to seek care from a recognised health facility if unwell.

Further, you should report any persons known to be unwell to the nearest facility.

Health workers are advised to be extra vigilant and maintain the highest infection prevention and control measures regardless of the condition being treated.

The public is further urged to get information from the official Ministry of Health platforms and the toll free line 719.

The Ministry will continue to update Kenyans as more information becomes available.

HON ADEN DUALE, E.G.H

CABINET SECRETARY