Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has sought to reassure Kenyans following the country’s first confirmed Ebola case, describing it as an imported case rather than an outbreak originating in Kenya. The patient, a Kenyan who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), died in Nairobi after testing positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
Highlights
- Duale says Kenya has recorded an imported Ebola case, not an outbreak.
- More than 650,000 travellers have been screened since preparedness measures began.
- Nearly 5,000 healthcare workers have received Ebola-related training.
- The deceased patient travelled from the DRC through Uganda before reaching Kenya.
- Health authorities are tracing people who may have come into contact with the patient.
Main Story
Duale Reassures Kenyans
Health CS Aden Duale has said Kenya is dealing with an imported Ebola case and not a locally established outbreak.
Speaking during an interview on NTV on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, Duale said the government had been preparing for the possibility of an imported case since the Ebola outbreak in the DRC was declared in May.
He said the country’s surveillance systems had been strengthened in anticipation of cases crossing the border.
The Ministry of Health has confirmed that the patient was a Kenyan citizen who had lived in the DRC for seven years. He became ill while in the DRC, received treatment there and later travelled through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi on October 3.
Kenya’s Preparedness Measures
Duale said Kenya had screened more than 650,000 travellers across its points of entry as part of efforts to detect possible Ebola cases.
According to the Ministry of Health, 652,584 travellers had been screened as of October 6, while 267 samples had been tested across five laboratories. Nearly 5,000 healthcare workers had also received training on Ebola prevention and case management.
The CS said these measures were put in place after the regional Ebola outbreak was identified, with the aim of reducing the risk of the virus spreading into Kenya.
How the Patient Reached Kenya
Duale said investigators have been able to establish the patient’s movements before he arrived in Nairobi.
The patient became ill in the DRC and sought medical attention before travelling through several locations, eventually reaching Kampala and then boarding a flight to Nairobi.
He arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Jambojet flight 8523 on October 3 and underwent routine screening at the airport. He was later taken directly to Nairobi Hospital, where his symptoms and travel history prompted doctors to suspect a viral haemorrhagic fever.
Laboratory tests conducted by both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and KEMRI confirmed the presence of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease. The patient subsequently died while receiving supportive treatment.
Questions Around Airport Screening
Duale said medication the patient had been taking may have affected the ability of thermal screening equipment to detect his illness when he passed through JKIA.
The explanation comes as authorities examine how the patient managed to travel internationally despite having been ill for some time.
Health experts and international reports have also highlighted the limitations of temperature screening, particularly because early Ebola symptoms can be difficult to detect and medication may reduce fever.
How Ebola Spreads
Duale also addressed concerns about how Ebola is transmitted.
He said the disease does not spread through the air, water or food and emphasised that transmission occurs when people come into contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids.
The Ministry of Health has advised Kenyans to maintain good hand hygiene, avoid close contact with people who are sick and arriving from areas with active Ebola transmission, and seek medical attention if they develop symptoms.
Contact Tracing Underway
Following confirmation of the case, health authorities began tracing people who may have been exposed to the patient.
The Ministry said 28 contacts, including family members and healthcare workers, had been identified. Authorities were also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who travelled on the same flight as the patient.
The contacts are being monitored as health officials work to establish whether any secondary infections have occurred.
Duale has urged the public not to panic, saying the government has response systems in place and continues to monitor the situation.
Kenya has also notified the World Health Organization of the confirmed case in accordance with international health regulations.
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