Kenya confirms eighth Ebola case as Congo outbreak spreads to a new province
All of Kenya's cases are linked to one patient who travelled from DR Congo and died in Nairobi. The Bundibugyo strain behind the outbreak has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
At a glance
- Kenya confirmed its eighth Ebola case on October 18: a 49-year-old patient attendant who was already in quarantine.
- All eight cases trace back to one man who travelled from DR Congo via Uganda, flew into Nairobi on October 3 and died on October 5.
- 128 of his 130 known contacts are in quarantine; the health ministry says there is no sign of community spread and rates the public risk as low.
- The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. DR Congo has recorded more than 9,000 cases and about 4,500 deaths since May.
Kenya has confirmed its eighth case of Ebola, all linked to a single patient who brought the virus from the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the deadliest Ebola outbreak in Congo's history continues to spread across East and Central Africa.
The latest case
Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth said 38 people were tested on Sunday, October 18, and one result came back positive. The new patient is a 49-year-old man who worked as a patient attendant, cleaning utensils and linen. He is not a health worker. He developed fever, headache and muscle pain on Saturday and was already in quarantine as a known contact, which helped health teams isolate him quickly.
On Saturday, the health ministry had reported four new cases: three health workers who treated Kenya's first patient, and a relative of that patient. Six of the infected people are now in isolation.
How Ebola reached Nairobi
Kenya's first patient was a Kenyan man who had lived in DR Congo for seven years. He travelled by road from Buta, in northern Congo, to Kampala in Uganda, and then flew to Nairobi on October 3. Officials believe he knew he was unwell and was taken straight from the airport to hospital, where he died on October 5. His infection was confirmed as Ebola on October 6, and he was buried under strict public health rules.
| Kenya outbreak in numbers | |
|---|---|
| Confirmed cases | 8 |
| Deaths | 1 (the first patient) |
| Contacts of the first patient identified | 130 |
| Contacts traced and in quarantine | 128 |
| Monitoring period for contacts | 21 days |
The ministry says there is no evidence that the virus is spreading in the community and rates the risk to the public as low. It warned that more cases among quarantined contacts are still possible until their 21-day monitoring period ends.
What Kenya is doing
Health teams are stepping up contact tracing, isolation and surveillance. Screening has been tightened at entry points, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, and health workers are checking the temperatures of travellers crossing from Uganda at border points such as Busia. Aid organisations are helping with screening and supplying protective equipment to clinics and hospitals.
People can call the free hotline 719 for advice.
A strain with no vaccine
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, it has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Care focuses on early supportive treatment, which improves survival, while quick isolation and contact tracing are the main tools for stopping the virus.
The wider outbreak
- DR Congo: more than 9,000 confirmed cases and about 4,500 deaths since the outbreak began in May, with a case fatality rate of about 48%. Ituri province accounts for almost three-quarters of cases. On October 18 the government said the virus had reached an eighth province, North Ubangi. North Kivu is banning entry from Ituri for a week, limiting passengers in cars and on motorbikes, and suspending large gatherings.
- Uganda: 20 confirmed cases, 15 of them imported from Congo, and two deaths. Uganda had been declared Ebola-free in August.
Why it matters
Nairobi is one of Africa's busiest air hubs, with direct flights to the Gulf, Europe and South Asia, which is why health authorities across the region are watching closely. So far, every Kenyan case is linked to the same known chain of contacts — the situation health officials want to keep under control.
What to watch for
Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain and weakness, followed by vomiting and diarrhoea; severe cases can involve bleeding. Anyone who develops these symptoms within three weeks of contact with a suspected case, or after travel to an affected area, should seek medical help immediately, tell health workers about their travel, and avoid close contact with others.
Questions people are asking
How many Ebola cases does Kenya have?
Kenya confirmed its eighth case on October 18, 2026. All cases are linked to one patient who travelled from DR Congo and died in Nairobi on October 5; one death has been reported in Kenya so far.
Is there a vaccine for the Bundibugyo Ebola strain?
No. The vaccine used in recent Ebola outbreaks protects against the Zaire strain, not Bundibugyo. Treatment is supportive care — fluids, managing symptoms and treating complications — given as early as possible.
How does Ebola spread?
Through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a sick or dead person, or with contaminated items such as bedding and clothing. It does not spread through the air, and people are not infectious before they show symptoms.
