In brief
Kenya has confirmed a second Ebola case 10 days after the death of a businessman who travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The new patient is 39 and was a close relative of the first case, and had been in quarantine before becoming ill. The health ministry said the incident did not ignite community transmission and urged calm but vigilant monitoring. The government traced 128 contacts of the first patient, 113 of whom were found, with 108 placed in quarantine. The outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed more than 4,000 deaths this year, highlighting the seriousness of Ebola in the region
A 39‑year‑old man who is a relative of the 40‑year‑old Kenyan who died of Ebola on 5 October has been confirmed positive for the virus.
The patient was already under quarantine when he fell ill on Tuesday; he had been monitored by health authorities after the first death, which occurred after the businessman’s journey from the Democratic Republic of Congo and via Uganda to Nairobi.
Ebola’s incubation can range from two to 21 days, giving the health ministry time to detect the case early. Early detection has improved the patient’s odds of recovery and limited the chance of further spread.
In a statement the ministry said the two cases are linked and there is no evidence of community transmission, urging the public to remain calm but vigilant.
Since the death of the first patient officials have traced 128 contacts; 113 of them have been located, 108 of whom were placed in quarantine while tracing of 15 continues. The Democratic Republic of Congo outbreak, which began in May, has already claimed more than 4,000 deaths, and is caused by the Bundibugyo strain against which no approved vaccine exists but clinical trials are underway.
