Kenya has confirmed an imported case of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus in a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC.
The Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, disclosed this in a statement, saying the patient fell ill in the DRC and received treatment at several hospitals before travelling through Kampala, Uganda, to Nairobi.
The patient later died in Nairobi.
Tedros said the WHO is supporting the governments of Kenya, the DRC and Uganda with contact tracing, surveillance and screening to identify potential cases and prevent further transmission.
Kenyan authorities notified the WHO of the case on October 6, in line with the International Health Regulations.
Health officials have so far identified 28 contacts, including family members and healthcare workers who treated the patient. Authorities are also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who were on the same flight as the deceased.
Kenya is the fourth country to confirm Bundibugyo virus disease. The DRC is currently responding to an outbreak, while Uganda ended its latest outbreak in August 2026. France also reported a travel-related case in June.
The WHO has advised against imposing travel or trade restrictions on the affected countries based on the information currently available.
