Kenya confirms first Ebola case and death, begins contact tracing
Kenya announced its first confirmed Ebola case on October 6, 2026, after a returning citizen died in Nairobi on October 5. Authorities are tracing family, healthcare and flight contacts.
In short
- Kenya announced its first confirmed Ebola case on October 6, 2026, after a returning citizen died in Nairobi on October 5.
- Authorities are tracing family, healthcare and flight contacts.
Kenya confirmed its first Ebola case and death on October 6, 2026, after a Kenyan citizen returned from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was admitted to a Nairobi hospital, according to Health Minister Aden Duale, as reported by The Guardian.
The patient arrived by air from Kampala on October 3 and died on October 5. The World Health Organization independently confirmed the travel dates, death and positive laboratory tests for Bundibugyo virus in its October 6 statement.
Authorities identified 28 contacts, including relatives and healthcare workers, The Guardian reported. They were also seeking 23 passengers and four crew members who had shared the patient's flight. Those figures describe contact-tracing efforts, rather than additional confirmed infections.
The case comes during an ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. WHO said it was assisting Kenya with surveillance and response measures. In its October 6 assessment, the organization advised against restricting travel or trade with Kenya, Uganda or the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the information available.
Primary-source verification: [WHO's October 6, 2026 statement](https://afro.who.int/countries/kenya/news/kenya-confirms-first-imported-bundibugyo-virus-disease-case-who-supports-control-efforts).
