The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting Kenya to strengthen surveillance and outbreak control measures following confirmation of the country’s first imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD).

The case involves a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the patient fell ill and received treatment at several health facilities before travelling by road to Kampala, Uganda, through Beni on October 2.

The patient flew to Nairobi on October 3 and was taken to a hospital, where they were immediately isolated. Samples tested positive for Bundibugyo virus at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).

The patient died on the night of October 5 and was buried on Tuesday in accordance with Kenya’s Ebola safe and dignified burial protocol.

Kenyan health authorities have so far identified 28 contacts, including family members and health workers who cared for the patient, while tracing 23 passengers and four crew members who travelled on the same flight.

WHO said arrangements were underway for appropriate follow-up and quarantine of people assessed to be at risk.

WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Mohamed Janabi said Kenya’s preparedness measures had provided an important foundation for responding to the case.

“Health emergency preparedness gives us a head start. Kenya has put important outbreak control measures in place,” Janabi said, urging authorities to move swiftly to detect any further cases.

He said rapid and coordinated action would be critical in preventing the virus from gaining a foothold and causing further transmission.

Kenya notified WHO of the case on Tuesday in accordance with the International Health Regulations (2005).

Kenya becomes the fourth country to confirm BVD. The DRC is currently responding to an outbreak, while Uganda ended its latest outbreak in August 2026. France also reported a travel-related case in June.

Kenya had been on heightened alert since May following outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda.

As of October 6, more than 652,000 travellers entering the country had been screened, while 267 suspected samples had been tested and about 5,000 health workers trained on Ebola prevention and management.

WHO and its partners have supported the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Institute through simulation exercises, training of rapid response teams, strengthening surveillance and assessment of isolation units in 27 high-risk counties.

About 1,000 Ebola tests and 1,000 personal protective equipment kits have also been supplied to high-risk counties.

Kenya’s Ebola preparedness score rose from 66 per cent in May to 82 per cent in July, based on measures including surveillance, laboratory capacity, isolation and treatment facilities, and trained response teams.

WHO said risk communication and community engagement had also been intensified through public messaging, media engagement, call-centre support and monitoring of rumours and misinformation.

The agency advised against imposing travel or trade restrictions on Kenya, Uganda or the DRC based on the information currently available.

Bundibugyo virus disease is a severe and potentially fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials.

There are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for BVD, although candidate products are being evaluated in clinical trials.

by Wangari Ndirangu