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Kenya races to trace contacts after first Ebola death – WHO official – EnviroNews
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Kenya’s first Ebola death has triggered an intensive contact-tracing effort, with the United Nations and partners supporting authorities, the World Health Organization’s country representative said on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, in Nairobi following confirmation.
WHO Representative, Dr Neema Kimambo, said the coming days would be decisive in preventing community transmission of the Bundibugyo strain, which has now claimed Kenya’s first fatality following recent confirmation.
The victim, a local man who had lived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for several years, became ill there during the continuing outbreak before travelling to Kenya for treatment.
He travelled to Nairobi through Kampala and Entebbe in Uganda on Oct. 3, went directly to hospital, received medical attention upon arrival and died in the Kenyan capital on Monday evening.
Authorities have since identified people who had direct contact with the patient, including individuals linked to his social interactions and those involved in his hospital admission and care before his death.
“This is an outbreak of an imported case, one who came in and went straight to hospital, but the Government is working to identify all the relevant contacts as part of their response to this outbreak,” Kimambo said.
She said contacts had been identified, including about 10 relatives who “have been very cooperative, and some actually volunteered themselves and they are now already placed under quarantine.”
Meanwhile, 21 health workers who attended to the patient, alongside laboratory personnel and other hospital staff, have been contacted and assessed as part of ongoing surveillance and response efforts.
Although the professionals applied infection prevention and control measures, Kimambo said authorities planned to quarantine affected staff, adding that arrangements had already been made for personnel at Nairobi Hospital.
The Kenyan Government is also collaborating with the airline involved to trace approximately 23 passengers and four crew members who travelled on the flight linked to the case.
She said the Government was making “every effort” to find all possible contacts, emphasising that identifying and quarantining exposed persons remained critical to preventing community transmission of the virus.
WHO is supporting Kenya, the DRC and Uganda through contact tracing, surveillance, screening and other response measures aimed at rapidly detecting potential infections and preventing further spread.
The organisation is also working with the Africa CDC to support Kenya’s response efforts and mobilise Member States to strengthen preparedness, coordination and regional disease surveillance activities.
Kimambo emphasised the importance of public awareness, noting that Ebola spreads through contact with bodily fluids from infected persons, including sweat, blood and saliva, making preventive measures essential.
She urged residents to “maintain utmost hygiene” through regular handwashing, use of sanitisers and reduced physical contact, while also recognising symptoms early and seeking prompt medical attention.
“I think one key message is not to panic. And the second one is let us take necessary precautions and quickly. If someone is feeling unwell, they should go to a health facility to seek care.”
Even before the confirmed case, WHO and other United Nations agencies had been supporting Ebola preparedness efforts in Kenya following the emergence of the outbreak in eastern DRC.
The International Organisation for Migration monitored border movements, while UNICEF supported community risk management initiatives and interventions related to water, sanitation and hygiene across vulnerable locations.
WHO focused on strengthening surveillance systems, improving case management capacity and conducting simulation exercises designed to test readiness and enhance coordinated responses to possible Ebola cases.
Asked about the risk of wider transmission, Kimambo underscored the importance of quarantine measures, saying exposed individuals could be monitored closely and tested quickly should symptoms emerge.
“I think these next few days are critical because we know the incubation period will start from between two to eight days.
“If we are able to ensure that we do proper contact listing, get all contacts, put them in quarantine, then that will be the key to really contain and stop any community spread.
By Cecilia Ologunagba
