Kenya reports second Ebola death as 65-year-old woman dies; nine cases
A 65-year-old woman, a close relative of Kenya's first Ebola patient, has died in an isolation unit. Kenya now has nine confirmed Bundibugyo cases and two deaths, all in one cluster of known contacts.
At a glance
- Kenya's health ministry announced late on Friday, October 23, 2026, that a 65-year-old woman with Ebola had died, the country's second death in the outbreak.
- She was a close family member and direct contact of Kenya's first patient, developed symptoms on October 13 while in quarantine and was admitted to an infectious disease unit the same day.
- Kenya has nine confirmed cases of Bundibugyo virus disease; the other seven patients are being treated in two isolation facilities.
- The ministry says all cases belong to one cluster of known contacts and there is no evidence of community spread.
- The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or specific treatment; the free hotline is 719.
Kenya has recorded its second death from Ebola. The health ministry said late on Friday, October 23, 2026, that a 65-year-old woman, a close family member of the country's first patient, had died while being treated in an infectious disease unit. Kenya now has nine confirmed cases of the Bundibugyo strain and two deaths, and officials say every case is still inside a single cluster of known contacts.
What happened
The woman was Kenya's third confirmed case. As a direct contact of the first patient, she had been placed in quarantine and was being monitored when she developed symptoms on October 13. She was admitted to an infectious disease unit the same day and given supportive care, but she died while under treatment.
Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth said her death was "a painful reminder" of how serious the disease can be. The ministry said her family had been informed and that trained teams would carry out the burial under public health rules, while respecting the family's wishes and beliefs.
| Kenya Ebola outbreak | As of October 24, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Confirmed cases | 9 |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Patients in isolation | 7, in two facilities |
| Contacts identified | 135 |
| Community spread | No evidence, ministry says |
| Strain | Bundibugyo virus |
| Free hotline | 719 (WhatsApp 0700 719 719) |
How the outbreak reached Kenya
Kenya's first patient was a Kenyan man who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He travelled by road through Uganda and flew into Nairobi on October 3, already unwell. He died in hospital in early October, and his infection was confirmed as Ebola on October 6.
Since then, health teams have traced his contacts and placed them in quarantine. Cases have been found among relatives and among staff who cared for him, including health workers and a hospital attendant. The ninth case, a 24-year-old man who is a close relative of the first patient, was confirmed on October 20. At that point officials said 134 of the 135 identified contacts had been traced and quarantined.
A strain with no vaccine
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, it has no approved vaccine and no specific treatment. Doctors rely on early supportive care, such as fluids and treatment of complications, which improves survival. Fast isolation of the sick and close monitoring of contacts are the main tools for stopping the virus.
The wider outbreak began in DR Congo in May and is the deadliest in that country's history, with thousands of deaths. It has also reached Uganda, and Nigeria has confirmed a case in a traveller.
Reactions
The health ministry stressed that the outbreak remains contained to one group of known contacts and that the public risk is low. It repeated its advice to avoid contact with the blood and body fluids of sick people, not to handle the bodies of people who died of a suspected illness, and to wash hands regularly with soap and water.
Why it matters
Nairobi is one of Africa's busiest air hubs, with direct flights to the Gulf, Europe and South Asia, so any spread beyond the known cluster would worry health authorities far beyond Kenya. Many workers travelling between East Africa and Pakistan or India pass through Nairobi and Gulf hubs.
A second death among the quarantined contacts shows the danger of this strain, but the fact that she was already isolated when she fell ill is also a sign that contact tracing is working.
What happens next
Contacts stay under monitoring for 21 days after their last exposure, and the ministry has warned that more cases among them are possible until that period ends. Kenya will keep screening at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and at land borders with Uganda, while DR Congo has begun a vaccine trial in Bunia, in Ituri province, the centre of the outbreak.
Symptoms and when to seek help
Seek medical help at once for fever, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding, especially after contact with a sick person or travel to an affected area. Tell health workers about your travel, and call the free hotline 719 for advice.
Questions people are asking
How many people have died of Ebola in Kenya?
Two. Kenya's first patient, a man who travelled from DR Congo via Uganda, died in Nairobi in early October, and a 65-year-old woman who was his close relative died while being treated in an isolation unit, the health ministry announced on October 23, 2026.
How many Ebola cases are there in Kenya?
Kenya has nine confirmed cases of Bundibugyo virus disease as of October 24, 2026. All are linked to one cluster of known contacts of the first patient, and the health ministry says there is no evidence of community transmission.
Is Ebola spreading in Nairobi?
Not in the community so far, according to Kenya's health ministry. Every confirmed case was already a known contact being monitored, but officials say more cases among quarantined contacts are possible until their 21-day monitoring ends.
