Kenya Confirms First Ebola Death as Regional Outbreak Raises Fresh Alarm

NAIROBI, Kenya — October 7, 2026 — Kenya has confirmed its first-ever Ebola case and death after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died in Nairobi, prompting an intensified public-health response and contact-tracing operation.

Kenya’s Ministry of Health said the patient had been living in the DRC and became ill about a month ago. He was treated at several medical facilities there before travelling by road to Kampala, Uganda, and then flying to Nairobi on October 3. He was taken to a Nairobi hospital after arriving in the country and was subsequently isolated.

Laboratory tests confirmed that the patient had Bundibugyo virus disease, a form of Ebola linked to the ongoing outbreak in the DRC. Despite receiving supportive medical care, he died on October 5 and was buried under Kenya’s safe and dignified burial procedures.

Authorities begin contact tracing

Kenyan health authorities have identified 28 contacts, including relatives and healthcare workers who had contact with the patient. Officials are also working to locate people who travelled on the same flight from Uganda to Nairobi. Contacts are being monitored and isolated for 21 days where required.

The World Health Organization said it is supporting Kenya as authorities strengthen surveillance, screening at high-risk points of entry, case investigation and community communication. Kenya had already been on heightened alert because of the Ebola situation in neighbouring countries.

The country has screened more than 652,000 travellers, tested hundreds of suspected samples and trained approximately 5,000 health workers in Ebola prevention and management, according to the WHO.

Concern grows over wider regional spread

The Kenyan case is connected to a much larger outbreak in the DRC. The DRC declared its latest Ebola outbreak in May, and the disease has since spread across several provinces. More than 8,000 confirmed cases and over 4,000 deaths have been reported during the outbreak, according to recent health authorities’ figures.

Uganda, which borders both the DRC and Kenya, previously reported cases linked to the outbreak but was declared Ebola-free in August after containing its transmission. Kenya is now the latest country to confirm an imported case of the Bundibugyo virus.

Kenyan officials have urged the public not to panic while advising people to maintain good hygiene, avoid close contact with people showing symptoms and seek medical attention when necessary. Authorities say their priority is to detect any additional cases quickly and prevent community transmission.