Kenya Records First Ebola Death Amid Growing Outbreak

Tue Oct 06 2026 10:59:43 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Kenya confirms its first Ebola death after Kenyan citizen arrives from DR Congo, raising alarms as the outbreak worsens in the region.

Kenya has confirmed its first Ebola case and death, following the arrival of a Kenyan national who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) for seven years. Health Minister Aden Duale said the patient, who fell ill a month earlier in DR Congo, passed away a few days after arriving in Nairobi, after testing positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. The outbreak in DR Congo has already claimed more than 4,000 lives this year, making it one of the deadliest in recent history. Authorities are urging heightened vigilance and rapid response to prevent further spread, while the BBC continues to update the story as new details emerge.

Kenya records its first Ebola death this week after a Kenyan citizen, who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo for seven years, succumbed to the disease.

The patient, whose name has not been released, fell ill a month earlier in DR Congo and was treated in several hospitals before returning to Nairobi. Health Minister Aden Duale said the man died days after arrival, with official tests confirming the presence of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.

"He boarded a flight on Saturday and underwent normal public screening at the main airport in Nairobi before he was transferred by a relative to a hospital in the city," Duale told reporters, adding that the patient had moved between hospitals in DR Congo before the illness became apparent.

The outbreak in DR Congo has already claimed more than 4,000 lives this year, making it the second most deadly known Ebola outbreak. Public health officials warn that the virus can spread quickly in dense urban settings and advise strict adherence to quarantine and contact‑tracing protocols.

Officials are expanding surveillance and contact tracing, while local health workers are on standby to respond to any new cases. Residents are urged to report symptoms such as fever, severe headache, bleeding, or vomiting if they have recently travelled to high‑risk areas.

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