Kenya has confirmed a second Ebola case linked to the country’s first infection, as health officials intensify contact tracing and surveillance to prevent further spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The 39-year-old man developed symptoms on Tuesday while in quarantine after being identified as a contact of Kenya's first confirmed case, the health ministry said. The first patient, a 40-year-old Kenyan who had been living in Congo, tested positive for Ebola on October 5 and died the same day, shortly after arriving in Nairobi from Uganda.
He had fallen ill in Congo and received treatment at two health facilities before travelling through several Ebola-affected provinces. He later crossed into Uganda by road and flew to Kenya, where a relative took him to hospital.
Kenyan authorities have identified around 128 contacts linked to the first patient, with 108 placed in quarantine in the country. Five others are being monitored abroad, according to the health ministry.
Officials said the two confirmed infections were epidemiologically linked and that there was no evidence of community transmission.
The early detection of the second case could improve the patient's chances of recovery, the ministry said, as authorities step up surveillance and contact tracing.
Kenya has tightened screening at border crossings and airports and urged residents to report suspected infections through an emergency hotline.
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The cases come as Congo struggles to contain an expanding outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has spread across several provinces and prompted concern over cross-border transmission.
Congo had recorded more than 9,000 confirmed cases and over 4,300 deaths by mid-October, according to government figures, making the outbreak the largest in the country's history.
The response has been hampered by insecurity, population movements, shortages of medical facilities and difficulties identifying infections, with health officials warning that many cases may go undetected.
The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, adding to the challenges facing health authorities. Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials.
Uganda, which also reported cases linked to the outbreak earlier this year, was declared Ebola-free in August after recording 20 cases and two deaths.
The appearance of imported cases in neighbouring countries has heightened concerns about regional surveillance and the ability to detect infections as people cross borders.
Health authorities in Kenya and neighbouring countries are working to trace contacts and strengthen measures to prevent further transmission.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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