Kenya confirms a second Ebola case, a relative already in quarantine
The 39-year-old developed symptoms while isolated as a close contact of Kenya's first case, who died in Nairobi on 5 October.
Nairobi — Kenya has confirmed a second case of Ebola, a week after its first, Africanews reports.
The patient is a 39-year-old man, a close family member of the first case. The Health Ministry said he was already in quarantine when he developed symptoms on Tuesday.
How the virus reached Kenya
Kenya's first patient had been ill in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He travelled by road into Uganda, although the border had been closed since May, then flew to Nairobi on 3 October and died in hospital there on 5 October. His journey has raised concerns about border screening in the region.
The wider outbreak
- The outbreak in Congo was declared in mid-May and is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
- Africanews describes it as one of the largest Ebola outbreaks on record, with more than 8,000 cases and over 4,000 deaths; a separate Africanews report puts cases above 9,000.
- Kenya is the fourth country to report a linked case. Uganda had 20 cases and two deaths and was declared free of Ebola in August.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people.
Source: Africanews with AP, 14 October 2026.
