Kenya Confirms Eighth Ebola Case Linked to First Patient

Kenya has confirmed eight Ebola infections linked to a Kenyan man who traveled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to Nairobi and died on October 5, according to health officials. Authorities say the latest patient, a 49-year-old hospital attendant, was already in quarantine, while the risk to the general public remains low.

Kenya's Ministry of Health reported that the other six patients identified before the latest case are in isolation. Officials have found no evidence of community transmission, indicating that the known infections remain connected to the original patient.

Kenya's Office of the Director General for Health said authorities had identified 130 contacts of the first patient. By the weekend, officials had traced 128 of them and placed them in quarantine.

The health office described the remaining tracing work and warned that additional infections could emerge during the monitoring period.

"Intensive efforts are ongoing to trace and quarantine the two remaining contacts," the Office of the Director General for Health said in a press release.

Health officials said the 21-day monitoring period remains important because people who have been exposed may develop symptoms before it ends.

"In addition, new cases among quarantined contacts are possible until their 21[-day] monitoring period ends," the Office of the Director General for Health said.

Aden Duale, Kenya's cabinet secretary of health, previously said the first patient had lived in the DRC for seven years before traveling to Kenya. The 40-year-old man came from Buta, a city in the northwestern DRC, and sought treatment at several hospitals after becoming ill.

According to Duale, the man traveled by road from the DRC to Kampala, Uganda's capital, before boarding a Jambo Jet flight to Nairobi on Saturday, October 3. His symptoms included fever, chills, fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, a sore throat and painful swallowing.

Laboratory testing confirmed infection with Ebola, specifically the Bundibugyo virus, a rare variant associated with the ongoing outbreak in the DRC. The patient received supportive care but died on October 5, Duale said.

Dr. Patrick Amoth, Kenya's director general for health, said officials believed the patient recognized that he was ill and contacted friends and relatives to arrange direct transportation from the airport to a hospital.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) announced that it was expanding its Ebola response in Kenya in partnership with the Ministry of Health. Its work includes supporting screening at airports and border crossings and supplying personal protective equipment to clinics and hospitals.

Irene Bosire, IRC's deputy director of programs in Kenya, said rapid action was needed to prevent further transmission both within Kenya and in the outbreak's origin area.

"Kenya has a chance to stay ahead of an Ebola outbreak in the country," Bosire said in a statement.

She emphasized the need for coordinated measures in Kenya and the eastern DRC, where the outbreak continues to place pressure on public health services.

"We must act fast, stopping any potential spread here and at its source in eastern DRC," Bosire said.

The DRC continues to face its largest recorded Ebola outbreak. According to the country's Ministry of Health, as of October 12, authorities had confirmed 9,144 cases and 4,410 deaths, while 899 patients were in isolation or hospitalized.

The DRC outbreak's case fatality rate stood at 48.2%, and contact tracing had reached 77.6%, according to the Ministry of Health.