Kenya confirms second Ebola death as cluster grows

The first Ebola outbreak in Kenyan history has claimed a second life, expanding a cluster of infections linked to a patient who entered the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The health ministry confirmed that a 65-year-old woman died after being placed in quarantine.

The woman was a close family member of the initial victim. She developed symptoms on 13 October while already under observation. The first death occurred on 5 October. That patient had fallen ill in September and was treated at multiple hospitals in the DRC before arriving in Nairobi, where he died shortly after landing.

Seven other individuals are currently receiving treatment at two isolation facilities. This group includes three relatives of the first victim, three health workers, and one hospital cleaner. The ministry stated that all cases belong to a single cluster, with no evidence of community spread.

The strain causing the outbreak is the Bundibugyo species, a relatively rare variant. No approved vaccine or treatment exists for this specific strain, although trials are ongoing. The virus spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood or vomit. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhoea, which can lead to organ failure. Some patients experience internal and external bleeding, though not all do.

Kenya has introduced enhanced screening for travelers arriving from the DRC and nine other high-risk nations, including Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Zambia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic. Passengers must complete a digital surveillance form before boarding and present a QR code to port health officials upon arrival. Aircraft from these countries undergo additional public health screening.

The local outbreak follows a larger crisis in the DRC, where more than 9,500 cases have been reported and over 4,000 people have died since May. The International Rescue Committee, working with both governments, notes a steady risk of new cases crossing borders. Nigeria's health minister, Prof Ali Pate, said the country's only confirmed case appears genetically related to the Kenyan strain. Officials are examining whether the two first patients crossed paths at Uganda's Entebbe airport earlier this month.

The United States has warned its citizens against traveling to Kenya. Neighboring Uganda, Ethiopia, and Somalia remain on alert. Uganda's health ministry announced on Friday that travelers from the DRC will no longer be allowed to transit through the country as a prevention measure.