Kenya has confirmed its second Ebola case after a close relative of the country’s first patient tested positive while in quarantine, prompting authorities to strengthen measures to prevent further infections.
The Health Ministry said on Wednesday that the 39-year-old man developed symptoms on Tuesday. He was identified as a close relative of the first patient, a 40-year-old Kenyan who died on October 5, the same day he tested positive for Ebola.
The first patient had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he fell ill and received treatment at two health facilities. Before leaving the country, he travelled through three provinces affected by Ebola.
He arrived in neighbouring Uganda on October 1 before flying to Kenya. A relative collected him from the airport and drove him to a hospital, where he received treatment and subsequently tested positive for the virus.
Following the first case, health officials identified around 128 contacts who may have been exposed to the patient. Of these, 108 were placed in quarantine, while five contacts were located outside Kenya, with authorities in the respective countries notified.
The second patient was among those quarantined. The Health Ministry said early detection of the infection “improves his chances of recovery”.
Authorities said the two cases were linked and stressed that there was “no evidence of spread in the community”.
Kenya has since tightened screening at border crossings and airports in response to the outbreak. The Health Ministry has also urged the public to take precautions and report suspected infections through an emergency hotline.
