CIDRAP-Kenya reports its first Ebola case, in man who died after arriving from DR Congo

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Kenya reports its first Ebola case, in man who died after arriving from DR Congo

www.cidrap.umn.edu

Kenya reports its first Ebola case, in man who died after arriving from DR Congo​

Stephanie Soucheray, MA

12 minutes ago.
Ebola

Viral Hemorrhagic Fever


Kenyan officials confirmed today the country’s first Ebola case linked to the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The man was a Kenyan citizen but had lived in the DRC for 11 years.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the patient has been seen by heath facilities in the DRC, but on October 2 traveled by road to Kampala, Uganda, through Beni in the DRC. On October 3 he boarded a Jambojet flight to Nairobi, Kenya, where he passed through Nairobi’s airport health screening.

After landing, the man was taken to Nairobi Hospital by a relative and was quickly placed in isolation. He had fever, chills, and bleeding under the skin.

“Doctors suspected a viral hemorrhagic fever based on his symptoms and travel history and collected samples for testing. The sample tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo virus,” Kenya’s defense minister Aden Duale said today.

Kenyan officials said the man would have a safe and dignified burial today.

Almost 50% death rate in this outbreak​

Officials said 28 contacts in Kenya are being observed, and are seeking 23 passengers and four crew members from the patient’s flight. It is not clear how the man traveled from DRC to Uganda, as Uganda has closed its borders to the neighboring country since May.

“Health emergency preparedness gives us a head start. Kenya has put important outbreak control measures in place. The priority now is to move swiftly to detect any further cases before the virus has an opportunity to spread. We're supporting the ongoing efforts to strengthen the response, and with rapid and coordinated action, we can prevent the virus from gaining a foothold and stop a potential larger outbreak,” said Dr. Mohamed Janabi, MD, PhD, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

According to the WHO, Kenya has screened more than 652,000 travelers entering the country, tested 267 suspected samples, and trained around 5,000 healthcare workers on Ebola prevention and management since this outbreak of Bundibugyo strain Ebola was declared on May 15.

According to the most recent situation report from the DRC government, the country now has 8,544 confirmed Ebola cases, including 4,114 deaths. The case-fatality rate is 48.2%, and only 73.8% of case contacts are being traced.