Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease, triggering an urgent contact-tracing operation after the patient died in Nairobi.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed the case on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, saying the patient was a Kenyan citizen who had lived and worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for seven years.
The patient, who had fallen ill about a month before returning to Kenya, travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala, Uganda, before boarding a flight to Nairobi.
He arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Saturday, October 3, at about 1 p.m., where he underwent routine public health screening.
He was later picked up by a relative and a friend and taken to Nairobi Hospital, where he was isolated after developing symptoms consistent with viral haemorrhagic fever.
According to the Ministry of Health, the patient presented with fever, chills, extreme fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing, sore throat and bleeding under the skin at an injection site.
Samples collected from the patient later tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease.
Despite receiving supportive treatment, the patient died on Monday night at approximately 11:30 p.m.
Health teams launch contact tracing
Following the confirmation, health authorities have identified 28 people who had direct contact with the deceased and are monitoring them as part of containment measures.
Authorities are also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who travelled on the same Jambojet flight from Nairobi.
Quarantine arrangements have been put in place for individuals considered to have been exposed to the virus as health teams work to establish whether there have been any further transmissions.
The Ministry of Health says surveillance and contact-tracing measures have been intensified in response to the confirmed case.
Case linked to DRC outbreak
The Kenyan case has been linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the Bundibugyo virus has been circulating.
The outbreak was declared in May 2026.
Kenya’s confirmation of an imported case comes as the country relies on its disease surveillance and emergency response systems to prevent local transmission.
The Ministry has urged Kenyans to remain calm, saying health authorities have activated the necessary response measures, including surveillance, contact tracing and monitoring of people who may have been exposed.
Authorities are expected to continue providing updates as investigations establish the extent of possible exposure and whether any additional cases emerge.
