Kenya’s health ministry confirms second Ebola case

A relative of the first case, 39-year-old man’s infection raises concerns of a cross-border spread.Kenya has reported a second Ebola infection, about a week after confirming its first-ever case of the disease when a citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) travelled to Kenya and died two days later at a Nairobi hospital.The second patient, a 39-year-old man who is a close family member of the first case, fell ill on Tuesday and was already in quarantine when he came down with symptoms of fever, fatigue and joint pain, the Ministry of Health said in a statement Wednesday.Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) customs officials check passports and identity for passengers at the arrival screening point at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on October 7, 2026 [AFP]‘Leave Uganda out’Last week’s case raised concerns about deficiencies in border screening systems in the region after the patient drove from the DRC to Uganda and flew to Nairobi from there.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Kenya confirms first Ebola case as man dies in Nairobi after DRC returnlist 2 of 3Kenya on high alert amid concern over screening after first Ebola deathlist 3 of 3Why single Ebola death in Kenya has prompted fears of wider African spreadend of listGiven the closure of the border between the DRC and Uganda since May because of the outbreak of the virus, it is not clear how he was able to enter the country.Alan Kasujja, executive director of the Ugandan government’s media centre, questioned how Kenya allowed the man to enter via its airport.“Leave Uganda out of this conversation. We don’t have Ebola here,” he wrote on X.When asked how the patient was able to travel through three countries undetected, Kenya’s Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth said last week that a meeting was scheduled with officials from the DRC and Uganda and the Africa CDC to investigate.Port health officials from Kenya’s Ministry of Health monitor data as they wait for passengers at the arrival screening point at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on October 7, 2026 [AFP]Stepped-up responseKenya has intensified its national response to the disease since the country recorded the first case. At the time, Kenya traced everyone who came in contact with the patient and reported at least 57 people, with 10 immediately quarantined, Health Minister Aden Duale told journalists on October 7.