Kenya reports third Ebola case

Kenya has recorded its third case of Ebola, according to health officials. The 65-year-old woman, believed to be related to the first two patients, was placed in quarantine since October 6. She exhibited symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and malaise, leading to her isolation and testing. Early diagnosis and supportive care are providing her with a better prognosis.

The outbreak is linked to the ongoing Ebola epidemic in Congo, which is the second-largest ever recorded, with over 9,000 cases and more than 4,000 deaths. The first Kenyan case involved a man who had been ill in Congo for about a month, then traveled to Uganda and flew to Nairobi on October 3, where he passed away on October 5.

The second patient remains stable. There is no evidence of the virus spreading in the wider community. The situation has sparked concerns about potential lapses in screening systems. The first patient evaded Congo's closed border with Uganda and traveled through Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Kenyan authorities have traced 127 out of the 130 individuals who came into contact with the initial patient, placing them in quarantine, while efforts are underway to contact the remaining three.

Ebola transmission occurs through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, leading to symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, bleeding. The Congo outbreak began in mid-May, potentially earlier, and is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which vaccines and treatments are not yet available.

Uganda reported cases in May and June but was declared Ebola-free in August. A French doctor who returned from Congo in June tested positive but there have been no further cases in that country.