Kenya confirms first imported Ebola case from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Kenya has confirmed its first Ebola case after a patient infected with the Bundibugyo virus died in a Nairobi hospital on Monday evening.

Key points

• The patient had lived and worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo for seven years before traveling through Uganda to Kenya.
• Health authorities have identified 28 contact persons and are searching for passengers and crew from the patient's flight.
• The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus, which currently lacks a specific vaccine or therapy.
• The Democratic Republic of Congo has reported over 4,000 deaths during the ongoing epidemic.

Why it matters

The confirmation of Kenya's first Ebola case highlights the cross-border health risks of a rapidly growing regional outbreak in Central and East Africa.