Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died at a Nairobi hospital.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed the case on Tuesday, October 6, saying the patient had lived and worked in the DRC for seven years before falling ill about a month ago. According to the Kenya News Agency, he received treatment at several health facilities in the DRC before travelling back to the region.

The patient travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala, Uganda, before boarding Jambojet flight 8523 to Nairobi on Saturday, October 3. Citizen Digital reported that he arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at about 1:10pm and underwent routine public health screening before proceeding through immigration.

According to People Daily, the passenger was transported directly from JKIA to Nairobi Hospital by a relative and a friend, where he was immediately isolated. He was initially placed in a separate room in the Accident and Emergency department before being transferred to the hospital's East Wing Isolation Facility.

The patient presented with symptoms including fever, chills, intense fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing, sore throat and bleeding under the skin at injection sites. KBC reported that doctors considered the illness a suspected viral haemorrhagic fever because of his symptoms and recent travel history from the DRC.

Laboratory tests conducted by Kenya's National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute confirmed that the patient had Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease. The World Health Organization said the patient was quickly isolated after arriving in Nairobi but died on the night of October 5 despite receiving supportive care.

The Ministry of Health has so far identified 28 contacts linked to the deceased, including family members and healthcare workers who attended to him. The Star reported that authorities are also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who travelled on the same flight from Kampala to Nairobi.

Jambojet has confirmed that it is working with the Ministry of Health, Port Health Services and other authorities to identify and manage passengers and crew members who may have come into contact with the affected traveller. Standard Media reported that the airline is supporting the ongoing public health response.

The government has also intensified surveillance at Kenya's border points following the confirmation. People Daily reported that Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth said heightened surveillance would continue at formal crossing points, including Busia and Malaba, as authorities work to prevent further transmission.

The WHO said Kenya had already been on high alert since May 2026 and had screened more than 652,000 travellers entering the country, tested 267 suspected samples and trained about 5,000 health workers on Ebola prevention and management. The agency said it is working with the Kenyan government to strengthen contact tracing, screening at high-risk points of entry and public health communication.

The WHO further confirmed that Kenya is the fourth country to report a case of Bundibugyo virus disease during the current outbreak. The organisation said Uganda ended its latest Ebola outbreak in August 2026, while the DRC continues to respond to an ongoing outbreak.

Health authorities have urged Kenyans not to panic and to rely on verified information while maintaining good hygiene and avoiding close contact with people who may be infected. Anyone who develops symptoms associated with Ebola should seek medical attention promptly at a recognised health facility.

The confirmation has placed Kenya's disease surveillance and contact-tracing systems under renewed scrutiny as health officials work to determine whether the virus was transmitted to anyone after the patient's arrival in the country.