Kenya has confirmed a second case of Ebola, ten days after a businessman died of the virus following a journey from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) through Uganda to Nairobi.
The new patient is a 39-year-old man and a close relative of the first case. He was already in quarantine when he fell ill on Tuesday, which the health ministry says improves his chances of recovery and limits the risk of onward spread. The ministry says both cases are linked and there is no evidence of spread in the wider community.
Officials say the first patient, who died on 5 October, had contact with 128 people. Of those, 113 have been found and 108 are in quarantine, while tracing of the remaining 15 continues. Kenya remains open, with no restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings, and the public is being asked to stay calm but vigilant.
Anyone with a fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pains, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding is advised to seek care promptly at the nearest health facility.
The wider outbreak in DR Congo, which began in May, is caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola. There is no approved vaccine or treatment, although trials are under way.
Source: BBC News, 14 October 2026