Kenya Confirms Second Ebola Case After First Victim's Death
Health officials are tracing contacts of a man who traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kenya has confirmed its second Ebola case, a relative of the country's first victim, who died on October 5 in the capital, Nairobi. The 40-year-old Kenyan man was diagnosed shortly after being admitted to a hospital.
He had traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo, passing through Uganda before reaching Kenya without his illness being detected. His relative brought him to the hospital after picking him up at the airport.
Since the initial death, Kenyan health officials have identified 128 people who had contact with the deceased. As of Tuesday, 113 of those individuals had been located. Of this group, 108 are currently in quarantine within Kenya, while authorities continue to trace the remaining 15.
The Ebola virus, which spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids, has caused a devastating outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo this year. More than 4,000 people have died from Ebola in the DR Congo, marking the second-deadliest outbreak on record.
The current outbreak in the DR Congo began in May and is attributed to the Bundibugyo species of Ebola. This strain is relatively rare, and there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment, although clinical trials are in progress.