Two Kenyans have died from Ebola as the outbreak stays within one family
A 65-year-old woman died in quarantine, the country's second death since the first case arrived from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
By Olga Menon ·
Kenya reported its second death from Ebola on Friday. The health ministry identified the victim as a 65-year-old woman who died after being placed in quarantine. She was a close family member of the first person confirmed with the virus in the country.
The ministry stated that the woman began showing symptoms on October 13 while already isolated. The initial death occurred on October 5. That first patient, a man who traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo, had been ill since September. He received treatment in the DRC before moving to Nairobi, where he died shortly after arrival.
Seven additional patients are currently receiving care at two isolation centers. The group includes three other relatives of the first victim, three health workers, and one hospital cleaner. Officials emphasized that all cases form a single cluster. They said there is no evidence of community spread beyond this group.
This local outbreak occurs against a backdrop of a severe epidemic in the DRC. Since Ebola was confirmed in that nation in May, more than 4,000 people have died. The DRC has recorded over 9,500 cases, marking the second most deadly outbreak on record. The International Rescue Committee, which assists both governments, noted that Kenya faces a constant risk of new cases crossing its borders.
The virus involved is the Bundibugyo strain. It is a rare variant with no approved vaccine or standard treatment, though trials are ongoing. The disease spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, and organ failure, with some patients experiencing bleeding.
Kenya has tightened entry rules for travelers from the DRC and nine other high-risk nations, including Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Zambia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic. Passengers from these countries must fill out a digital form and present a QR code to port officials upon landing. Airlines must also undergo extra public health screening for these flights.
The United States has advised its citizens against non-essential travel to Kenya. Neighboring Uganda, Ethiopia, and Somalia are on alert. Uganda announced on Friday that travelers coming from the DRC can no longer transit through its territory. In Nigeria, Health Minister Prof Ali Pate said the country's sole confirmed case appears genetically linked to the strain in Kenya. Officials are testing whether the two patients crossed paths in Uganda's Entebbe airport earlier this month.
