Kenya loses second person to Ebola as seven others are treated in isolation

Kenya has recorded its second death from Ebola, marking a development in the country’s first-ever outbreak of the disease. The Ministry of Health confirmed that a 65-year-old woman died after falling ill on 13 October while in quarantine. She was a close relative of the first victim, a man who died on 5 October after travelling from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Nairobi.

Seven other patients are currently receiving treatment at two isolation facilities. This group includes three additional relatives of the initial patient, three health workers, and one hospital cleaner. Officials state that all confirmed cases belong to a single cluster, with no evidence indicating that the virus has spread to the wider community.

The local outbreak follows a larger crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 4,000 people have died since the disease was confirmed in May. With over 9,500 reported cases, it stands as the second most deadly Ebola outbreak in history. The International Rescue Committee warns that Kenya faces a steady risk of new cases entering the country across its borders.

The virus is the Bundibugyo species, a relatively rare strain for which no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists, though trials are ongoing. The disease transmits through contact with infected bodily fluids. Symptoms can progress to vomiting, diarrhea, and organ failure, while some patients experience internal and external bleeding.

To manage the threat, Kenya has increased screening for travelers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo and nine other high-risk nations, including Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Zambia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic. Passengers must complete a digital surveillance form before boarding and present a QR code to health officials upon arrival. Aircraft from these countries are also subject to additional public health inspections.

The United States has issued a travel warning for its citizens in Kenya, while neighboring Uganda, Ethiopia, and Somalia have placed their health systems on alert. Uganda’s health ministry announced on Friday that travelers from the Democratic Republic of Congo can no longer transit through the country.

Nigeria’s Health Minister, Prof Ali Pate, stated that the country’s only confirmed case appears genetically related to the strain found in Kenya. Officials are testing whether the two first patients crossed paths, as both are believed to have traveled through Entebbe airport in Uganda earlier this month.