Kenya Confirms First Imported Ebola Case After Traveller Dies

Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Ebola virus disease after a Kenyan citizen who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo died in Nairobi, the Ministry of Health said on October 6.

The patient, who had lived in the DRC for seven years, travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala before flying to Nairobi on Jambo Jet flight 8523 on October 3. He arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 1:10pm and underwent routine public health screening.

The man was taken directly from the airport to Nairobi Hospital by relatives and friends, where he was isolated after presenting with symptoms including fever, chills, severe fatigue, muscle pain, painful swallowing, sore throat and bleeding beneath the skin at injection sites.

Doctors suspected viral haemorrhagic fever because of his symptoms and travel history and collected a sample for testing. The sample tested positive for Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease at both Kenya’s National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute laboratory.

The patient was given supportive treatment but died on the night of October 5, according to the ministry. Authorities said arrangements for a safe and dignified burial were under way.

Kenyan health authorities have identified 28 contacts of the deceased, including family members and healthcare workers who treated him. They are also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who were on the same flight from Kampala to Nairobi.

Authorities said quarantine arrangements for people considered at risk were under way as part of efforts to prevent further transmission.

Kenya has maintained heightened surveillance for Ebola since an outbreak began in May, according to the ministry. By October 6, health authorities had screened 652,584 travellers and tested 267 samples across five laboratories. Only one test had returned positive.

The country has also trained 4,971 health workers at national and sub-national levels in Ebola prevention and management.

Kenya has notified the World Health Organization of the case in line with the International Health Regulations.

Health authorities urged the public not to panic and advised people to wash their hands frequently or use alcohol-based hand rubs, avoid close contact with people who are sick and seek care at recognised health facilities when unwell.

Source: FSX Business News