Kenya has confirmed its second case of Ebola, with the Ministry of Health saying there is no evidence of widespread transmission of the deadly virus in the country.
In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry said the latest patient was a 39-year-old close family member of the first victim who had already been placed in quarantine and was under monitoring when the infection was detected.
Kenya reported its first-ever Ebola death last week after a Kenyan man who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died shortly after returning home.
The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak in May. The disease has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa over the past five decades.
“The Ministry of Health confirms a second case of Ebola,” the statement said, adding that early detection had helped reduce the risk of further transmission.
The ministry stressed that “there is no evidence of spread in the wider community”.
According to the statement, the second patient was isolated as soon as he developed symptoms, including fever, fatigue and joint pain. He subsequently tested positive for the virus.
“He is now in a designated treatment centre, where trained teams are giving him supportive care,” the ministry said.
Health authorities have also intensified contact tracing following the initial case. As of Tuesday, officials had identified 128 contacts of the first victim and traced 113 of them.
Of those traced, 108 were in quarantine in Kenya, while five were located outside the country. The ministry said authorities in the relevant countries had been notified.
Efforts were continuing to locate the remaining 15 contacts.
Kenya had never previously recorded an Ebola case before the current outbreak.
Neighbouring Uganda recorded 20 cases, almost all involving people who had travelled from the DRC, and two deaths before the country was declared Ebola-free in August.
First victim travelled from DR Congo
Kenya’s first victim was a 40-year-old businessman whose identity has not been disclosed by the authorities.
He reportedly fell ill about a month ago and received treatment in the DRC before travelling overland to Uganda’s capital, Kampala, and then flying to Nairobi on October 3.
He was subsequently hospitalised in Nairobi but died on October 5, according to Health Minister Aden Duale.
The outbreak has raised concerns across the region, particularly because of cross-border travel between affected areas and neighbouring countries.
According to Congolese health authorities, the outbreak has recorded 9,066 infections and 4,381 deaths since the emergence of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in the DRC.
The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, making early detection, isolation, supportive care and contact tracing critical to containing its spread.
Kenyan health authorities have urged continued vigilance as surveillance and contact-tracing efforts continue.
