Kenya has reported no new Ebola infections after testing 293 samples following its first confirmed imported case, which resulted in the death of a patient in Nairobi on Oct. 5, the Ministry of Health said on Sunday.
The ministry said the samples came from 289 alerts, with only the previously confirmed case testing positive. The patient, a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was confirmed to have contracted the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola on Oct. 6.
Health authorities have identified 122 contacts linked to the patient, of whom 108 were in quarantine as of Sunday. None had developed symptoms, according to the ministry. Officials are continuing to monitor contacts and trace people who may have been exposed during the patient’s journey to Kenya.
The patient travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala, Uganda, before boarding a flight to Nairobi on Oct. 3. Kenyan health officials have been tracing passengers and crew who travelled on the same flight, alongside family members and healthcare workers who may have had contact with him.
The ministry urged the public to remain calm but vigilant, advising anyone concerned about possible exposure or experiencing symptoms to seek medical attention.
Kenya has stepped up surveillance at border crossings and health facilities following the confirmation. The World Health Organization has also reported cases linked to the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC, where the epidemic has placed additional pressure on already strained health services.
Although the absence of additional confirmed cases is encouraging, health authorities continue to monitor contacts and suspected infections. The coming weeks will be important in determining whether the imported case leads to further transmission in Kenya.
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