4 more Ebola cases detected in Kenya, bringing total to 7

Kenya has confirmed four new Ebola cases, increasing the total number of cases in the country to seven, according to the health ministry. The new infections bring the overall number of Ebola cases in Africa over the past 50 years to more than 15,000. The cases include another relative of the first victim, as well as three healthcare workers who treated him.

Kenya had not reported a single Ebola case until October 6, when a Kenyan man who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died after returning to the country. The DRC has been battling its 17th Ebola outbreak since May, reporting over 9,000 cases and more than 4,300 deaths. The deadly disease has claimed the lives of more than 15,000 people in Africa during this period.

The four new cases were immediately isolated after developing fever, and laboratory tests confirmed the positive results. The new cases include a close male relative of the deceased, two healthcare workers who had cared for the first patient, and a 65-year-old female relative of the first victim. The health ministry reassured the public that the risk of Ebola spreading in Kenya remains low, stating that there is no evidence of community transmission. Out of 130 contacts traced, 128 have been placed in quarantine.