Kenya Reports First Ebola Death as Authorities Trace 28 Contacts

Kenya has reported its first-ever Ebola death after a Kenyan man who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo tested positive for the virus, according to Health Minister Aden Duale.

The unnamed man had been receiving treatment in the DRC before travelling overland to Kampala, Uganda. He then flew to Nairobi on October 3, where he was screened and confirmed positive for Ebola, Duale said.

The minister said the man died at about 11:30 the previous night. The exact date and location of the death were not provided.

Authorities trace 28 contacts

Kenyan authorities have identified 28 people who came into contact with the deceased, including members of his family and healthcare workers, Duale said.

Only one test had returned positive so far, according to the minister. The supplied information does not specify whether that result related to the deceased man or another person among those being monitored.

Duale sought to reassure the public, saying: “I wish to assure the public not to panic, as all systems are in place to mitigate the spread of the disease.”

First recorded case in Kenya

Kenya had not previously recorded an Ebola case, according to the report. The development follows the Democratic Republic of Congo’s declaration of its 17th Ebola outbreak in mid-May.

The source report said the Bundibugyo strain involved in the outbreak has neither a vaccine nor a specific treatment. The World Health Organization had recorded 4,082 deaths among 8,463 cases since the emergence of the strain as of October 2.

Ebola has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa over the past 50 years, according to the report. Kenyan authorities have not provided further details about the deceased man, the timing of his treatment in the DRC or the condition of the other identified contacts.