- Kenya confirms a third Ebola case after a 65-year-old woman in quarantine tests positive for the Bundibugyo virus disease
- The woman, a contact of the first two patients, developed a fever, sore throat and weakness before being isolated and tested
- Kenya’s first reported patient had travelled through the DRC and Uganda before arriving at JKIA, where he was cleared by Port Health Services
Kenya has confirmed a third case of Ebola after a 65-year-old woman who had been in quarantine since October 6 tested positive for the Bundibugyo virus disease, the Ministry of Health has announced.
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In a statement, Health Director-General Dr Patrick Amoth said the woman had been identified as a primary contact of the first two confirmed patients.
She subsequently developed symptoms, including fever, a sore throat and general weakness, prompting her isolation and the collection of samples for laboratory testing.
“Having been in quarantine, she was diagnosed early and is currently receiving supportive care, improving her chances of recovery while limiting the risk of further spread of the disease,” the ministry stated.
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The latest case comes amid concerns over the circumstances surrounding the country's first reported infection, whose symptoms reportedly began weeks before he arrived in Kenya.
How was Kenya’s third Ebola case detected?
According to the Ministry of Health, the 65-year-old woman was already under quarantine because of her contact with the first two patients.
Health officials isolated her after she developed symptoms and collected samples to establish whether she had contracted the virus.
The ministry said the woman was receiving supportive treatment and that her early diagnosis could improve her chances of recovery while reducing the risk of spreading the disease.
What happened to Kenya’s first Ebola patient?
Kenya’s first reported patient had reportedly been unwell for about a month before travelling through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda before arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.
The Ministry of Health said the man was a Kenyan national who had lived in the DRC for seven years. He reportedly sought treatment at several hospitals before travelling by road to Kampala, Uganda.
He later boarded Jambojet flight 8523 from Entebbe, which landed in Nairobi at 1.10pm on Saturday, October 3. He died three days later, according to the account provided.
The circumstances have raised questions about how the patient travelled while ill and was cleared by Port Health Services upon arrival at JKIA.
Jambojet said it was working closely with the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities to support the response.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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