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Kenyan authorities have confirmed a ninth case of Ebola in the country, with the health ministry saying all identified infections remain within a single cluster.
The ministry disclosed this on Tuesday, identifying the latest patient as a 24-year-old man who is a close family member of the first confirmed case.
According to the ministry, the man tested positive on Monday after developing symptoms while already in quarantine. He was isolated at the first sign of illness and immediately placed on treatment following confirmation of the infection.
“He was isolated at the first sign of illness, tested and started on treatment immediately upon confirmation of his positive test result,” the ministry said.
All nine cases linked to one cluster
Kenya reported its first Ebola case on October 6, involving a businessman in his forties who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where a major outbreak has been ongoing since May.
The first patient died in Nairobi on October 5, according to the report. Since then, eight additional infections have been identified, mostly among people who had close connections with the initial patient.
The health ministry said investigations had not established any transmission beyond the identified group.
“All nine cases belong to one cluster, and as (of) today there is no evidence of transmission outside this group,” the ministry stated.
Contact tracing, quarantine intensified
The Kenyan government said contact tracing had expanded following the emergence of additional cases, with health authorities working to identify and monitor people who might have been exposed to the virus.
The ministry disclosed that 134 of the 135 identified contacts had been traced and placed in quarantine as part of measures to contain the outbreak.
The development highlights the importance of identifying exposed individuals, monitoring their health and isolating suspected cases promptly to limit further transmission.
US issues travel warning
The confirmation of the latest case comes as the United States urged its citizens to reconsider travel to Kenya, raising its travel advisory over health risks.
The advisory adds an international dimension to the outbreak as Kenyan authorities continue efforts to contain the infections and prevent the virus from spreading beyond the affected group.
DR Congo outbreak exceeds 9,000 cases
Meanwhile, the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 9,000 cases, with 4,381 deaths recorded, according to Congolese health authorities.
The outbreak in the neighbouring Central African country has been ongoing since May and remains a major public health concern in the region.
Kenyan authorities are continuing surveillance, contact tracing and quarantine measures as they seek to contain the outbreak and prevent further infections.
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