Kenya Confirms Its First Ebola Case After Patient Dies in Nairobi

Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Ebola after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo died while receiving treatment in Nairobi.

First Confirmed Case in Kenya

Kenya’s Health Ministry confirmed the case on October 6, 2026. The patient had been living in Congo for seven years and became ill there before travelling to Uganda by road and then flying to Nairobi.

After arriving in Kenya on October 3, the patient was taken to a hospital in Nairobi and quickly isolated. Laboratory tests later confirmed infection with the Bundibugyo virus, a rare Ebola species.

The Patient Died After Treatment

The patient received supportive medical care at Nairobi Hospital but died on the night of October 5.

The World Health Organization said the patient had been treated at several health facilities while in Congo before travelling to Uganda and then Kenya. The patient was buried the following day under Kenya’s safe and dignified burial procedures.

Authorities Trace Possible Contacts

Kenyan health officials have identified 28 contacts, including family members and healthcare workers who cared for the patient.

Authorities are also tracing 23 passengers who travelled on the same flight from Uganda to Nairobi. The identified contacts will remain under monitoring and isolation for 21 days while health officials watch for possible symptoms.

Kenya Raises Its Level of Vigilance

Health authorities have placed the country on high alert and strengthened surveillance at borders and other points of entry.

The WHO said it is working with the Kenyan government to intensify case investigation, contact monitoring, screening at high-risk entry points and public health communication.

A Rare Virus Behind the Outbreak

The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus. Kenya is the fourth country to confirm a case connected to the ongoing outbreak, following the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and France.

Unlike some other Ebola species, there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment specifically for Bundibugyo virus disease. Vaccine and treatment trials are underway in Congo.

Health officials are now focused on identifying any additional infections as quickly as possible and preventing the virus from spreading further in Kenya.

Source: Associated Press and World Health Organization, October 6, 2026.