Kenya has reported its first-ever Ebola death after a Kenyan man who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died following his return to the country, Health Minister Aden Duale announced on Tuesday.
The man, whose identity was not disclosed, fell ill about a month ago and received treatment in the DRC before travelling overland to Uganda’s capital, Kampala, and later flying to Nairobi on October 3.
Duale said the man was screened after arriving in Kenya and tested positive for Ebola. He “regrettably passed on last night at around 1130”, the minister told reporters.
Health authorities have identified 28 contacts of the deceased, including family members and healthcare workers. So far, only one of those contacts has tested positive, Duale said.
“I wish to assure the public not to panic, as all systems are in place to mitigate the spread of the disease,” he added.
Kenya had never previously recorded an Ebola case. Earlier this year, however, public concern mounted over government plans to establish an Ebola treatment facility at Laikipia Air Base, about 200 kilometres (125 miles) from Nairobi.
The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak in mid-May. The disease has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa over the past five decades.
As of October 2, the World Health Organization had recorded 8,463 cases and 4,082 deaths since the emergence of the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for the strain.
AFP
