Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), with the patient dying after travelling from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) through Uganda to Nairobi, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.
The WHO said the Kenyan government had activated measures to prevent further transmission, including case investigation, contact tracing, enhanced surveillance, screening at points of entry and risk communication with affected communities.
The patient, a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the DRC, fell ill and received treatment at several health facilities in the country before travelling by road through Beni to Kampala, Uganda, on October 2, 2026.
The patient subsequently flew to Nairobi, arriving on October 3, and was immediately transported to a hospital where the person was isolated.
Samples tested positive for Bundibugyo virus at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute.
Despite receiving supportive care, the patient died on the night of October 5 and was buried on October 6 in line with Kenya’s Ebola safe and dignified burial protocol.
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The government notified the WHO of the case on October 6 in accordance with the International Health Regulations (2005).
Kenya is the fourth country to confirm BVD. The DRC is currently responding to an outbreak, while Uganda, where the Bundibugyo virus species was first detected in 2007, ended its latest outbreak in August 2026.
France also reported a travel-related case of BVD in June 2026.
According to the WHO, Kenyan health authorities have so far identified 28 contacts, including family members and health workers who cared for the patient.
They are also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who were on the same flight as the patient, with arrangements being made for follow-up and quarantine of individuals assessed to be at risk.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, said Kenya’s preparedness for health emergencies had helped the country respond quickly to the imported case.
“Health emergency preparedness gives us a head start. Kenya has put important outbreak control measures in place,” Janabi said.
He said the priority was to rapidly identify any additional cases before the virus could spread further, adding that WHO was supporting Kenya’s response.
“With rapid and coordinated action, we can prevent the virus from gaining a foothold and stop a potential larger outbreak,” he said.
Kenya had been on high alert since May 2026 following outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda.
As of October 6, the country had screened more than 652,000 travellers entering Kenya, tested 267 suspected samples and trained about 5,000 health workers on Ebola prevention and management.
The WHO said it had worked with partners to support Kenya’s Ministry of Health and National Public Health Institute through Ebola simulation exercises, training of rapid-response trainers and strengthening of surveillance and laboratory capacity.
Isolation units in 27 high-risk counties have been identified and assessed, while case managers have been trained and Ebola surveillance tools updated to facilitate rapid identification, reporting and investigation of suspected cases.
The agency said risk communication and community engagement had also been strengthened through public messaging, media and community engagement, call-centre support and monitoring of rumours and misinformation.
It added that about 1,000 Ebola tests and 1,000 personal protective equipment kits had been delivered to high-risk counties.
Kenya’s Ebola preparedness score, covering areas such as surveillance, laboratory testing, isolation and treatment facilities and trained response teams, rose from 66 per cent in May to 82 per cent in July 2026.
The WHO advised against imposing travel or trade restrictions on the DRC, Uganda or Kenya based on available information, saying it would continue to monitor the situation and verify travel and trade measures where necessary.
Bundibugyo virus disease is a severe and potentially fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials.
The WHO said there were currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for the disease, although candidate products were being evaluated in clinical trials.
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