Ebola: Kenya cases rise to 8, spreads to 8th Congo province

Kenya's Health Ministry reported an additional Ebola case, raising the total number of confirmed infections in the East African country to eight, according to a statement on Sunday. This development follows the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) confirming that the ongoing Ebola outbreak has expanded to its eighth province, Nord-Ubangi, located in the north, said World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Yakub Janabi.

The new case in Kenya is a 49-year-old man who is not a healthcare worker. He exhibited symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle pain, and is believed to have contracted the virus from the initial Ebola patient identified earlier this month. Health Minister Dr. Patrick Amoth explained that the individual was a patient attendant who cleaned utensils and linen, indicating potential exposure to the disease.

As part of their response, health authorities in Kenya are testing patients in quarantine who show symptoms. The other six confirmed Ebola patients are currently stable after receiving supportive treatment, and the first patient, who died on October 5, is no longer among those under observation.