Kenya recorded its first fatality from Ebola on Tuesday, marking the first time the virus has been confirmed in the country. Health Minister Aden Duale announced that a 46‑year‑old Kenyan man, who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo for seven years, died at Nairobi Hospital after a brief illness. He had been treated in the DRC for approximately a month before traveling overland to Kampala, Uganda, and then flying to Nairobi on 3 October.

The man’s symptoms included fever, chills, severe fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and bleeding at sites where he had received injections. After arriving in Nairobi, he was isolated and later tested positive for the virus. He passed away at around 20:30 GMT.

Authorities identified 28 individuals who had close contact with the deceased, including family members and health‑care workers. Of these, only one secondary case tested positive, the same patient whose death was confirmed. Officials are also tracing 23 fellow passengers and four crew members from the flight that brought the man to Kenya, and have arranged quarantine measures for those considered at risk.

Kenya had previously remained free of Ebola, though neighboring Uganda reported 20 cases — most linked to travel from the DRC — and two deaths before being declared Ebola‑free in August. The current outbreak in the DRC, the 17th recorded there, involves the Bundibugyo strain, for which no vaccine or specific treatment exists. Since the outbreak began in May, 4,082 deaths have been recorded among 8,463 confirmed cases.

The DRC’s response has been complicated by ongoing instability, including armed group clashes, mistrust of health officials, and attacks on medical personnel. Médecins Sans Frontières warned of an “alarming surge” in eastern North Kivu province, which now accounts for 40 % of new cases, up from 24 % at the end of August. The province, home to roughly 2 million people, currently operates only four Ebola treatment centers, two of which opened recently.

Stephanie Hoffmann, coordinator for MSF’s Ebola treatment centre in Butembo, described the situation as “like fighting a megafire,” noting that multiple concurrent outbreaks strain limited resources. She added that patient transfers to other facilities are sometimes necessary due to bed shortages, increasing community transmission risks.

North Kivu has experienced 134 violent incidents in the past month, the highest of any province, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project. These security challenges further hinder disease‑control efforts.

The World Health Organization and other international partners continue to support the DRC’s response, but funding shortfalls and persistent conflict remain significant obstacles. Kenya’s health ministry has urged the public to remain calm and to cooperate with contact‑tracing initiatives as the country strengthens surveillance at entry points and expands preparedness measures.