The 2026 Kenya Ebola case was the first confirmed imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease in Kenya. The case was confirmed on 6 October 2026 after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) travelled to Kenya through Uganda. The patient died on 5 October 2026.
Background
Kenya had been on heightened preparedness for Ebola since May 2026, when outbreaks of Bundibugyo virus disease were declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Before the October 2026 case, Kenya had not confirmed a case of Bundibugyo virus disease.
By 6 October 2026, Kenya had screened more than 652,000 travellers entering the country, tested 267 suspected samples and trained around 5,000 health workers in Ebola prevention and management. Isolation units in 27 high-risk counties had also been identified and assessed.
First case
The patient was a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for approximately seven years. According to Kenyan health authorities, he became ill while in the DRC and was treated at several health facilities there.
On 2 October 2026, the patient travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala, Uganda, through Beni. On 3 October, he travelled from Uganda to Nairobi, arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
After arriving in Nairobi, the patient was taken to a hospital and was isolated. Samples tested positive for Bundibugyo virus at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute. Despite supportive care, he died on the night of 5 October.
The patient was buried on 6 October under Kenya's safe and dignified burial protocol for Ebola cases.
Response
Following confirmation of the case, the Kenyan Ministry of Health intensified contact tracing, surveillance and screening at points of entry.
Health authorities initially listed 28 contacts, including family members and health workers who had cared for the patient. Authorities also began tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who had travelled on the same flight from Uganda to Nairobi.
The government placed people considered to be at risk under follow-up and quarantine measures and began enhanced surveillance to identify any additional cases.
The World Health Organization supported Kenya's response by providing Ebola diagnostic tests and personal protective equipment and by assisting national authorities with surveillance, case investigation and response coordination.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also provided support to Kenya's response to the imported case.
Terminology
The infection identified in the Kenyan patient was caused by Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebolavirus. The disease caused by the virus is formally known as Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD). News reports commonly referred to the case as Kenya's first Ebola case.
See also
Bundibugyo virus Ebola virus disease List of Ebola outbreaks
References