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Kenya - MoH reports an imported case of Ebola from DRC - October 3, 2026 - died

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Kenya confirms first imported Bundibugyo virus disease case; WHO supports control efforts​

6 October 2026|News Release|Reading time: 4 min
A health worker wearing personal protective equipment, including goggles, a face mask, a protective suit and gloves

Kenya confirms first imported Bundibugyo virus disease case; WHO supports control efforts

Nairobi—Following the confirmation by Kenyan authorities of the country's first imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), the World Health Organization (WHO) is working closely with the Government of Kenya to intensify key control measures to prevent further spread of the virus.

The government is strengthening its response coordination and case investigation, while monitoring and listing contacts for enhanced disease surveillance. At the core of the response efforts are screening at high-risk points of entry, and clear risk communication, while engaging communities to help prevent infection. These measures are rapidly being deployed to ensure the identification of cases and help contain further transmission.

The patient, a Kenyan citizen, fell ill in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they had been living, and was treated at several health facilities there. The patient then travelled by road to Kampala, Uganda through Beni on 2 October 2026, and flew to Nairobi, arriving on 3 October 2026. On arrival, the patient was transported to a hospital in Nairobi and was quickly isolated. Samples tested positive for Bundibugyo virus at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute. Despite supportive care, the patient died on the night of 5 October 2026 and was buried on 6 October 2026 in line with the country’s Ebola safe and dignified burial protocol.

The Government of Kenya notified WHO of the case in line with the International Health Regulations (2005) on 6 October 2026. Kenya is the fourth country to confirm BVD. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is responding to an ongoing BVD outbreak, while Uganda, where the Bundibugyo virus species was first detected in 2007, ended the latest outbreak in August 2026. Most cases in Uganda were imported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the remaining few were locally acquired among contacts and health workers linked to imported cases. France reported a travel-related case of BVD in June 2026.

Health authorities in Kenya have so far listed 28 contacts, including family members and health workers who cared for the patient. They are also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members from the same flight, with arrangements underway for appropriate follow-up and quarantine of people assessed to be at risk.

"Health emergency preparedness gives us a head start. Kenya has put important outbreak control measures in place. The priority now is to move swiftly to detect any further cases before the virus has an opportunity to spread. We're supporting the ongoing efforts to strengthen the response, and with rapid and coordinated action, we can prevent the virus from gaining a foothold and stop a potential larger outbreak," said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

Kenya has been on high alert since May 2026, when outbreaks were declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. As of 6 October 2026, Kenya has screened over 652 000 travellers entering the country, tested 267 suspected samples and trained around 5000 health workers on Ebola prevention and management.

WHO and partners have supported Kenya’s Ministry of Health and National Public Health Institute in these efforts. This includes Ebola simulation exercises and training a national pool of rapid response trainers, among them responders who served during the 2014–2016 West Africa outbreak. Isolation units across 27 high-risk counties in Kenya have been identified and assessed, case managers trained, and Ebola surveillance tools have been updated so that suspected cases can be quickly identified, reported and investigated. Risk communication and community engagement activities have also been strengthened through public messaging, media and community engagement, call centre support, and monitoring and responding to rumours and misinformation.

WHO has also delivered about 1000 Ebola tests and 1000 personal protective equipment kits to high-risk counties in Kenya.

Kenya's Ebola preparedness score, which tracks progress on key readiness measures such as surveillance, laboratory testing, isolation and treatment facilities and trained response teams, rose from 66% in May to 82% in July 2026.

WHO advises against any restriction of travel to, or trade with, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or Kenya based on the currently available information. WHO continues to closely monitor and, where necessary, verify travel and trade measures in relation to this event.

WHO calls for continued support to the response in affected countries. Global solidarity, along with government-led responses with engaged communities, is the best route to ending the outbreak.
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www.afro.who.int

Kenya confirms first imported Bundibugyo virus disease case; WHO supports control efforts

The Government of Kenya notified WHO of the case in line with the International Health Regulations (2005) on 6 October 2026. Kenya is the fourth country to confirm BVD.
www.afro.who.int www.afro.who.int
 
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News / Press Releases

Africa CDC expresses its solidarity with Kenya and calls for strengthened regional preparedness against Ebola.​


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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, October 6, 2026

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reaffirmed their support for Kenya following the confirmation of the first imported case of Bundibugyo strain Ebola virus disease in the country and the death of the patient.

His Excellency Dr. Jean Kaseya , Executive Director of Africa CDC, met today with Kenyan authorities and offered his condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased, as well as to the Government and people of Kenya. A high-level, multidisciplinary team from Africa CDC is traveling to Kenya today to provide appropriate support.

“I thank the Kenyan authorities for the measures quickly put in place and I reiterate the full support of Africa CDC. I will personally travel to Kenya in the coming days to assess, with the national authorities, the needs of the response and any additional support required,” said Dr. Kaseya.

Africa CDC commends the speed with which the patient was identified, isolated, and tested. He had left the Democratic Republic of Congo by road to travel to Uganda, where he spent one night, before taking a flight to Kenya.

Kenyan authorities have identified 28 contacts, including family members and healthcare workers, and are also searching for 23 passengers and crew members who traveled with the patient. Africa CDC notes that Kenya has maintained a high level of vigilance since the start of the outbreak. Kenya has urged the public to remain calm and refer to official sources of information, while also calling on healthcare professionals to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.

HE Dr Jean Kaseya also spoke with Ugandan authorities and commended the immediate steps taken to identify and isolate all contacts related to this case.

Regional preparation is essential

The confirmation of this case in Kenya underlines the importance of maintaining a high level of preparedness across the region, including through enhanced surveillance, cross-border information sharing, laboratory preparedness, rapid response capabilities, and infection prevention and control.

Africa CDC is working with Member States and partners to support coordinated preparedness and response, while strengthening its support to countries affected by the outbreak or at risk. This case also highlights the ongoing regional risk of this epidemic.

Community transmission continues to determine the response in the DRC

Africa CDC acknowledges the significant efforts of the DRC government to contain the outbreak, including its cooperation and transparency throughout the response. Africa CDC notes that significant progress has been made, but community transmission and the effectiveness of contact tracing remain major challenges, with over 70% of new cases still being detected in the community among individuals who had not been previously identified, registered, and monitored as contacts. This indicates that some chains of transmission continue to elude the response system.

Africa CDC encourages the DRC Government to accelerate the implementation of the village and community-based approach , including through active case finding, systematic contact tracing, daily follow-up and strengthened community engagement.

“To interrupt this epidemic, we must know where every contact is, track them, and quickly identify anyone developing symptoms before they transmit the virus to their family, community, or across borders. Our response must be African-led, united, transparent, and community-centered. We will only control this epidemic when the last chain of transmission has been broken,” said Dr. Kaseya.

The resources mobilized must translate into results.

Africa CDC, with the commitment of the United States Government and other partners, has helped mobilize approximately US$2.9 billion to support the response.

Africa CDC supports the call by the DRC authorities for greater transparency regarding announced, disbursed, received and used resources.

“Every dollar mobilized for this epidemic must be traceable back to the results it produces on the ground. Transparency is essential to preserving the trust of communities, governments and partners,” said Dr. Kaseya.

The case reported in Kenya underscores the need for sustained vigilance throughout the region. Africa CDC calls on Member States to strengthen surveillance and cross-border information sharing, ensure laboratory preparedness, bolster rapid response teams, and maintain rigorous infection prevention and control measures.

Africa CDC will continue its work alongside the DRC, Kenya, other Member States and partners to interrupt the chains of transmission and end the epidemic.

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africacdc.org

Africa CDC exprime sa solidarité avec le Kenya et appelle à renforcer la préparation régionale face à Ebola – Africa CDC

Addis-Abeba, Éthiopie, 6 octobre 2026 Les Centres africains de contrôle et de prévention des maladies (Africa CDC) ont réaffirmé leur soutien au Kenya à la suite de la confirmation du premier cas importé de maladie à virus Ebola de souche Bundibugyo dans le pays et du décès du patient. S.E. Dr...
africacdc.org africacdc.org
 
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