Kenya Confirms First Imported Ebola Case

Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Ebola after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo died following his arrival in Nairobi, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said on Tuesday.

“The Ministry of Health wishes to inform members of the public that it has confirmed the first imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease,” Duale said.

The man had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo for seven years and became ill about a month before returning to Kenya, according to the Health Ministry. He received treatment at several health facilities in Congo before travelling by road to neighbouring Uganda.

He later flew from Uganda to Kenya on a Jambojet flight carrying 23 passengers and arrived at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at about 1:10 pm local time on Saturday, October 3.

The patient underwent routine public health screening at the airport before proceeding through immigration, the ministry said. Relatives and friends then took him directly from the airport to Nairobi Hospital, where he was immediately placed in isolation.

He subsequently tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola and died.

Health authorities have identified 28 people who had contact with the deceased, including family members and health workers, as officials begin contact tracing to prevent further transmission.

The tracing operation covers the patient’s movements in Congo and Uganda, his commercial flight to Nairobi and his subsequent contact with relatives and medical personnel.

Kenya had already strengthened disease surveillance at airports and land border crossings following the Ebola outbreak in Congo, including measures to improve screening, laboratory capacity and preparedness at health facilities.

Ebola can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person or through contaminated materials.

Health authorities are monitoring the identified contacts for symptoms as surveillance continues following confirmation of the first imported case.

SOURCE: Anadolu Agency