Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), prompting health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen surveillance and outbreak control measures to prevent further transmission.
The patient, a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), developed illness there before travelling by road through Uganda and later flying to Nairobi on 3 October 2026. The patient was isolated after arrival and tested positive for Bundibugyo virus at Kenya’s National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute. Despite supportive treatment, the patient died on 5 October and was buried under safe and dignified burial procedures.
Kenyan authorities have identified 28 contacts, including family members and healthcare workers, while also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members from the flight to Nairobi.
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“Health emergency preparedness gives us a head start. Kenya has put important outbreak control measures in place. The priority now is to move swiftly to detect any further cases before the virus has an opportunity to spread. We’re supporting the ongoing efforts to strengthen the response, and with rapid and coordinated action, we can prevent the virus from gaining a foothold and stop a potential larger outbreak,” said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
Kenya has been preparing for potential cases since outbreaks were reported in the DRC and Uganda earlier this year. By 6 October, the country had screened more than 652,000 travellers, tested 267 suspected samples and trained around 5,000 health workers in Ebola prevention and response.
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WHO and partners are supporting Kenya through surveillance, laboratory testing, isolation preparedness, risk communication and community engagement. WHO has also supplied diagnostic tests and personal protective equipment to high-risk counties. Kenya’s preparedness score increased from 66% in May to 82% in July 2026, reflecting improvements in key outbreak response capabilities.
