Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) involving the Bundibugyo strain after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) tested positive for the virus.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the case on Tuesday, October 6, saying the patient had travelled from the DRC to Kenya after falling ill about a month earlier.
The patient had received treatment at several hospitals in the DRC before travelling by road to Kampala, Uganda, where he boarded a Jambojet flight to Nairobi.
“Ministry of Health, Kenya wishes to inform members of the public that it has confirmed the first imported case of Ebola, Bundibugyo virus disease. This patient is a Kenyan citizen who has been living in DRC for the past seven years,” Duale stated.
He arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 1:10 p.m. on Saturday, underwent routine public health screening at the Port Health facility and cleared immigration.
According to the Ministry of Health, the patient was then picked up by a relative and a friend in a Toyota Fielder, registration KDG 699Z, and driven directly to Nairobi Hospital.
He was immediately isolated in a separate room within the hospital’s Accident and Emergency department.
Duale said the government had activated measures to contain the virus and trace people who may have come into contact with the patient.
“We remain on high alert to protect the health and safety of all Kenyans,” Duale has previously said as the government intensified surveillance and screening following the regional outbreak.
The CS had earlier warned that Kenya’s position as a regional transport and aviation hub increased the risk of imported Ebola cases, particularly because of movements between Kenya, Uganda and the DRC.
