The Ministry of Health has confirmed Kenya’s first case of Ebola virus disease in Nairobi, saying the patient died, raising concerns over the possible spread of the highly infectious disease.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed the case on Tuesday, October 6, saying the patient had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi.
“The Ministry of Health wishes to inform members of the public that it has confirmed the first imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease,” Duale said.
According to the CS, the patient had been living and working in the DRC for the past seven years and fell ill about a month ago and was treated at several hospitals in the DRC before travelling to Uganda by road as he made his way back to Kenya.
Duale said the patient later boarded a Jambojet flight carrying 23 passengers and four crew members and arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Saturday, October 3, at 1:10 pm.
He further revealed that the patient underwent routine public health screening at JKIA before proceeding through the immigration desk.
He was then transported directly from the airport by relatives and friends in a Toyota Fielder to Nairobi Hospital, where he was immediately isolated in a separate room.
While at the facility, the patient presented with fever, chills, intense fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing, and bleeding under the skin.
“Based on the presentation and history of travel, the doctors considered his case to be viral fever and collected samples for testing, which turned positive for Ebola,” Duale said.
The samples were tested at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory operated by the National Public Health Institute and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), with both confirming the infection.
According to the Ministry of Health, the patient was placed on supportive treatment but later died on Monday, October 5, at 11:30pm.
“Arrangements for the safe and dignified burial of the deceased are ongoing, and the burial is planned for later today in line with Ebola-safe and dignified burial protocols,” Duale said.
The Ministry has so far identified 28 contacts of the deceased, including family members and healthcare workers who attended to him while he was receiving treatment.
“We are also pursuing a further 23 passengers and four crew members who were on the same flight with the deceased,” Duale added.
To curb the spread of the disease, Duale said the government has trained 4971 health care workers both at national and county level on Ebola prevention and management and has also notified Word Health Organisation of the latest incident.
” All systems are in place to mitigate the spread of the disease,” the CS reiterated.
Source: Kenyans.co.ke
