Kenya Confirms Eighth Ebola Case as Outbreak Spreads Across Region
Kenya has confirmed its eighth Ebola infection, raising concerns about the spread of a regional outbreak centred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Kenya’s Director-General for Health, Patrick Amoth, said on Sunday that one of 38 people tested that day had returned a positive result. The latest patient is a 49-year-old man who worked as a hospital attendant responsible for cleaning utensils and linens.
The man developed a fever, headache and muscle pain on Saturday before being isolated and placed in quarantine. Health officials believe he was likely exposed to Kenya’s first confirmed case, a man who travelled from the DRC and died in a Nairobi hospital on October 5.
Kenyan authorities have intensified surveillance and contact tracing as the country works to contain the outbreak. The government has also introduced additional screening measures to reduce the risk of further transmission.
The regional situation has become more concerning following confirmation that the outbreak in the DRC has spread to North Ubangi, bringing the number of affected provinces there to eight. The province borders the Central African Republic, increasing concerns about cross-border transmission.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Patients receive supportive medical care.
Health authorities across the region continue to focus on identifying infections, isolating patients and monitoring people who may have been exposed to the virus.
