Kenya’s first Ebola patient dies, prompting a swift health crisis response.
Ten people who were in close contact with the patient have been locked in a dedicated isolation centre, while authorities hunt for 57 more potential contacts.
The patient travelled from a town in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Uganda, then flew into Nairobi after about a month of illness—fighting the country’s first Ebola case.
Health officials say the virus was missed during routine border checks because the patient took medication that hid symptoms, raising alarms over screening gaps.
The African Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC) and Kenyan health ministry are intensifying airport surveillance, testing over 650,000 travellers and designating four hospitals to treat suspected cases.
President William Ruto reassures the public that rapid response teams are on the ground and the country is “well prepared” despite the emerging threat.
Globally, the DR Congo outbreak that began in May continues to claim lives, with the 2026 series of deaths highlighted in the regional context.
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