Kenya’s Ebola cases have risen to eight, intensifying concerns over the spread of the deadly virus as health authorities step up containment measures.
Despite the growing case count, officials say no community transmission has been recorded, with exposed individuals under quarantine and infected patients receiving medical care.
The country’s Director-General for Health, Dr Patrick Amoth, said the latest case involved a 49-year-old hospital patient attendant who tested positive after developing symptoms while in quarantine.
The man, whose duties included cleaning utensils and bed linens, is believed to have contracted the virus through contact with Kenya’s first confirmed case — a 40-year-old man who travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi.
The index patient died at a Nairobi hospital on October 5, triggering contact-tracing efforts to identify and monitor people who may have been exposed to the virus.
Health authorities have identified 130 contacts, with 128 remaining in quarantine. The other infected patients are reportedly stable and receiving supportive care.
To strengthen its response, Kenya has stepped up health screening at entry points and introduced an emergency hotline to facilitate the reporting and early identification of suspected infections.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Patients are instead managed with supportive care to address symptoms and complications.
