Kenya confirms four new Ebola cases, total now at seven

Nairobi has reported its third case of Ebola, a virus closely related to the ones previously reported in the country, according to Kenya's health ministry on Friday. Prior to this, the nation had not detected any instances of the contagious disease. Last week, a Kenyan man who had been residing in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) passed away after returning to Kenya.

Subsequently, a second individual, who was related to the first case, also tested positive for Ebola while under quarantine. The DRC had declared its 17th Ebola outbreak in May. The virus has claimed over 15,000 lives in Africa over the past five decades. The 65-year-old woman was identified as a primary contact and close relative of the first two cases.

She had been in quarantine since October 6. Once symptoms emerged, including fever, sore throat, and general malaise, she was isolated and tested positive for the virus. The ministry stressed that the risk to the public remains low and that there is no evidence of community transmission. Out of 130 contacts, 127 have been traced and placed in quarantine, while efforts are ongoing to trace and quarantine the remaining three contacts.

On Wednesday, the ministry confirmed the second case, which is a 39-year-old relative of the first victim. He is currently in isolation, and there is no indication of large-scale transmission of the virus. Kenya has never previously reported a case of Ebola. Uganda, a neighboring country, recorded 20 infections, mostly among individuals who had traveled from the DRC, resulting in two deaths, before being declared Ebola-free in August.

Kenya's first victim was a 40-year-old businessman, whose identity has not been disclosed. He fell ill approximately a month ago and received treatment in the DRC before traveling overland to Kampala, Uganda, and then flying into Nairobi on October 3. He was hospitalized in Nairobi but succumbed to the illness on October 5. According to Congolese health authorities, the outbreak has infected 9,066 people and caused 4,381 deaths since the emergence of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in the DRC. This strain lacks a vaccine or specific treatment.