Kenya has recorded its first-ever Ebola death after a Kenyan man who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo died shortly after returning to the country.
The man, whose identity has not been made public, had reportedly fallen ill while in the Democratic Republic of Congo and received treatment there before travelling to Uganda and later flying to Nairobi.
He arrived in Kenya on October 3 and was subsequently screened after entering the country...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Health authorities confirmed that he had tested positive for Ebola before his condition deteriorated. He eventually died at about 11:30pm on Monday while receiving treatment in Nairobi.
The development marks the first confirmed Ebola case and death ever recorded in Kenya, raising fresh concerns about the potential spread of the virus across East Africa.
Authorities have identified 28 people who had contact with the deceased, including members of his family and healthcare workers who attended to him.
So far, one of the contacts has tested positive, while health officials continue to monitor those who may have been exposed.
Health authorities have also begun tracing other people who may have come into contact with the patient during his journey, including passengers who travelled on the same flight from Uganda to Nairobi.
The identified contacts are being monitored under public health protocols as authorities work to determine whether the virus has spread beyond the initial case.
Kenyan health officials have urged citizens not to panic, assuring the public that measures are already in place to contain the disease and prevent further transmission.
The patient is expected to be buried under strict Ebola safety protocols designed to prevent possible exposure during the handling and burial of the body.
The development is linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the disease has continued to spread despite efforts to contain it.
The outbreak, which involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, was declared in May and has become a major public health concern across the region.
Uganda, which shares a border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, had also recorded Ebola cases during the current outbreak before being declared free of the disease in August.
The latest development means Kenya has now joined the countries affected by the current regional Ebola outbreak.
Ebola is a highly infectious viral disease that can cause fever, severe weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in serious cases, bleeding.
The virus can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, including after death.
Kenyan authorities are expected to continue contact tracing, surveillance and testing as they work to determine the extent of the potential exposure.
The government has also urged the public to rely on verified health information and cooperate with health officials throughout the response.
