Kenya has confirmed its first case of Ebola after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo tested positive for the virus, the Ministry of Health said Tuesday.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the patient had been living in the DRC before traveling to Kenya through Uganda. The patient later died while receiving treatment, according to the ministry.
The patient traveled by road from the DRC to Kampala before flying to Nairobi on Oct. 3, according to Kenyan authorities. The patient was screened at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and was later taken to a hospital after developing symptoms consistent with Ebola.
Health authorities isolated the patient and began contact tracing after the case was confirmed.
Kenya has identified 28 people who had contact with the patient, including family members and health workers, according to authorities. Officials are also tracing passengers who were on the same flight from Uganda to Nairobi.
Duale urged the public to remain vigilant and said the government had activated its disease surveillance and response systems.
The case comes as the DRC continues to deal with a major Ebola outbreak. The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak’s geographic expansion is increasing the risk of cross-border transmission.
The current DRC outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus. Uganda, which borders the DRC, has also reported cases during the outbreak.
Kenyan health authorities are continuing contact tracing and monitoring of people who may have been exposed to the virus.
