Kenya’s Ebola total reaches seven as health workers test positive

Kenya has confirmed seven Ebola cases after four additional infections were detected, including three healthcare workers, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said.

All four newly diagnosed patients were already in quarantine after exposure to the initial patient. They are receiving supportive care at a designated treatment facility, the agency said.

Kenya confirmed its first case on October 6. The patient was a Kenyan citizen who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo for seven years. He had sought treatment in Congolese hospitals about a month before his hospitalisation and then travelled to Kenya via Uganda.

Relatives took him from Nairobi’s airport to a hospital, where he was isolated. He died despite receiving supportive treatment.

In its statement published the previous day, Africa CDC said monitoring contacts of the initial patient had enabled the new infections to be detected. The agency continues to support Kenyan authorities with surveillance and coordination of the response.