Kenya loses second person to Ebola in first national outbreak
A 65-year-old relative of the first patient died after quarantine, while seven others remain under treatment in isolation facilities.
By Elijah Fitzgerald ·
Kenya's health ministry confirmed a second death from Ebola on Friday, marking the first recorded loss of life from the disease in the country's history. The patient, a 65-year-old woman, died after showing symptoms while under quarantine. She was a close relative of the initial victim, a man who had traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo before falling ill in Nairobi.
The timeline of the cluster began in September when the first patient became sick in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He received treatment at several hospitals there before arriving in Nairobi, where he died on October 5. The second patient, who had already been placed in isolation, developed symptoms on October 13. The ministry reports that seven other individuals are currently being treated in two isolation centers. This group includes three other relatives of the first victim, three health workers, and a hospital cleaner. Officials emphasize that all cases stem from a single cluster, with no signs of community spread.
Kenya's outbreak is part of a wider crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 4,000 people have died since the disease was confirmed in May. That nation has logged over 9,500 cases, making it the second most deadly Ebola outbreak on record. The International Rescue Committee, which is assisting both governments, notes that Kenya continues to face a steady risk of new cases crossing its borders. The strain involved is the Bundibugyo species, which has no approved vaccine or treatment, though trials are ongoing.
In response to the threat, Kenya has tightened screening for travelers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo and eight other high-risk countries. Those nations include Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Zambia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic. Passengers must complete a digital surveillance form before boarding and present a QR code to port health officials upon landing. Aircraft from these regions undergo additional public health checks. Within the country, the government is urging prompt reporting of suspected cases and running public awareness campaigns.
Regional reactions have been swift. The United States has advised its citizens to avoid travel to Kenya, while Uganda, Ethiopia, and Somalia have placed themselves on alert. Uganda's health ministry announced on Friday that travelers who have visited the Democratic Republic of Congo can no longer transit through the country. Meanwhile, Nigeria's health minister, Prof Ali Pate, stated that the country's single confirmed case appears genetically linked to the strain found in Kenya. Officials are investigating whether the two first patients crossed paths in Uganda, as both are believed to have passed through Entebbe airport earlier this month.
