Kenya: Explainer - What Happens Next After Ebola Case Linked to Jambojet Flight?

Kenya has confirmed its first case of Ebola, with the patient being a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for seven years. The individual passed away in the DRC and was later transported to Kenya after traveling through Uganda. Upon arrival in Nairobi, the patient was admitted to a hospital and placed in isolation.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed the Ebola diagnosis following positive test results from the National Virology Reference Laboratory and KEMRI laboratory. The patient exhibited symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat, and bleeding under the skin at injection sites.

In total, 28 contacts, including family members and healthcare workers, have been identified, while authorities are also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who were on the same flight. Kenya has been proactive in its surveillance efforts, screening 652,584 travellers and testing 267 samples during its heightened vigilance period, with only one sample returning positive so far.

Duale assured the public not to panic and emphasized that all necessary measures are in place to prevent the spread of the disease. He urged the public to practice frequent handwashing, avoid close contact with sick individuals arriving from affected countries, and seek care at recognized health facilities when unwell.