Kenya Confirms First Ebola Case as Regional Outbreak Raises Alarm

Nairobi, Kenya | October 6, 2026

Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Ebola virus disease after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died in Nairobi, prompting health authorities to intensify surveillance and contact-tracing measures.

The Ministry of Health said the patient had been living in the DRC and developed symptoms before travelling by road from Beni to Kampala, Uganda, on October 2. The patient then flew from Kampala to Nairobi, arriving on October 3, before being taken to a hospital and isolated after presenting symptoms consistent with Ebola.

Samples tested positive for Bundibugyo virus at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). Despite receiving supportive care, the patient died on the night of October 5 and was buried on October 6 under Kenya's safe and dignified burial protocols.

Health authorities have identified 28 contacts linked to the patient, including family members and healthcare workers. Officials are also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who travelled on the same flight as the deceased to establish whether anyone else may have been exposed.

The government has intensified screening at points of entry, surveillance and case investigation, while health teams are working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international partners to prevent further transmission.

According to the WHO, Kenya had been preparing for the possibility of an imported case since Ebola outbreaks were reported in the DRC and Uganda earlier in the year. More than 652,000 travellers entering the country have been screened, 267 suspected samples tested and about 5,000 health workers trained in Ebola prevention and management.

The WHO said Kenya's preparedness had also improved significantly, with the country's preparedness score rising from 66 per cent in May to 82 per cent in July as authorities strengthened surveillance and response systems.

The Kenyan case is linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC, where the Bundibugyo virus has continued to spread across several provinces. Recent reports have put the number of confirmed cases at more than 8,000 and deaths at more than 4,000, although figures remain subject to updates as health authorities continue to reconcile and verify data.

The outbreak has affected seven provinces, with Ituri and North Kivu among the areas reporting significant transmission. Médecins Sans Frontières has warned of emerging hotspots in North Kivu and concerns over treatment capacity as health authorities and humanitarian organisations respond to the outbreak.

Uganda, which experienced an outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease earlier this year, was declared Ebola-free in August after completing the required period without a new confirmed case. According to the WHO, Kenya is the fourth country to confirm a case linked to the current Bundibugyo virus outbreak, after the DRC, Uganda and France.

The Bundibugyo virus is a species of Ebola for which there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments, according to the WHO, although candidate medical products are being evaluated. Early detection, isolation, infection prevention and control, and contact tracing therefore remain central to efforts to contain transmission.

The WHO has urged affected countries to strengthen community engagement and cross-border preparedness as people continue to travel between outbreak-affected areas and neighbouring countries.

Kenyan health authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant without causing unnecessary panic, advising people experiencing concerning symptoms to seek medical attention, particularly those who have recently travelled from areas affected by the outbreak.

Health teams will continue monitoring the identified contacts during the required observation period while authorities assess the risk of further transmission and strengthen measures to contain the virus.

For Kenya, the confirmation of the imported case marks the first known Ebola infection in the country and places renewed focus on surveillance, rapid detection and preparedness as the regional outbreak continues.