By the 254.ke Newsroom. Updated October 7, 2026.
Kenya has confirmed its first Ebola case. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, that a Kenyan man who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo for seven years tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo virus and died at Nairobi Hospital. Health officials are now tracing 28 contacts and 23 passengers who shared his flight from Uganda, and all contacts are to stay in isolation for 21 days.
What happened: the timeline
- Before travel: The man had been unwell for about a month. He travelled by road from DRC to Kampala, Uganda.
- October 3: He boarded a Jambojet flight carrying 23 passengers and four crew, landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at about 1:10 pm. He went through routine health screening before immigration, according to Kenyans.co.ke.
- October 3-5: Relatives took him straight to Nairobi Hospital, where he was isolated. Samples tested positive at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and KEMRI.
- October 5: He died at 11:30 pm despite supportive treatment. The Ministry of Health says he will be buried under Ebola safety protocols.
- October 6: Duale announced the confirmed case at a news conference.
Who is being traced and monitored?
Officials have identified 28 contacts, among them family members and health workers. The 23 other passengers and four crew from the Jambojet flight are also being followed up. Contacts who test negative will be released once the 21-day isolation period ends. The ministry says 4,971 health workers have been trained on Ebola prevention and management at national and county levels, and that the World Health Organization has been notified. Duale said “all systems are in place to mitigate the spread of the disease.”
What is Ebola Bundibugyo virus?
Bundibugyo is one of several Ebola species. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says no licensed vaccine or approved treatment exists for it: the Ervebo vaccine protects only against a different species. Past Bundibugyo outbreaks have killed roughly 25% to 50% of those infected, and the incubation period runs 2 to 21 days.
The virus spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a sick person, or of someone who has died of the disease. It is not airborne.
How big is the outbreak in DRC?
The outbreak was declared on May 15, 2026. Al Jazeera reports more than 8,300 confirmed cases across seven provinces and over 4,000 deaths, and says the WHO has warned the epidemic is far from over. In September, 254.ke reported Kenya’s own readiness at around 90%; see our readiness explainer, which counties were ready and the traveller screening figures.
What should Kenyans do now?
- Wash hands often with soap or use an alcohol-based sanitiser.
- Avoid contact with the blood or body fluids of anyone who is ill, and do not handle the bodies of people who died of suspected Ebola.
- If you flew Jambojet from Entebbe to Nairobi on October 3, or have a fever after contact with someone from an affected area, call the health ministry or go to a health facility and say so before entering.
- Rely on Ministry of Health and WHO updates, not social media forwards.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ebola airborne?
No. It spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids, according to the CDC.
Is there a vaccine for the strain in Kenya?
No licensed vaccine or approved treatment exists for Bundibugyo virus, the CDC says. Care is supportive.
How long is the isolation period?
Identified contacts stay in isolation for 21 days, the maximum incubation period.
Are there other confirmed cases in Kenya?
As of the reports reviewed on October 7, 2026, this is the only confirmed case announced. Check the Ministry of Health for updates.
Read the WHO’s Disease Outbreak News for official regional updates.
