US Embassy issues Ebola alert to Americans in Kenya

The United States Embassy in Nairobi issued a health alert to American citizens in Kenya following confirmation of the country’s first case of Bundibugyo virus disease, commonly known as Ebola.

The alert, issued on Wednesday, October 7, comes a day after the Kenyan government confirmed the imported case and death of a Kenyan national who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi.

The embassy said Kenyan health authorities were conducting contact tracing following confirmation of the case on October 6.

“The Government of Kenya reported a case of Bundibugyo virus disease (‘Ebola’) on October 6. Health officials are conducting contact tracing of the patient,” the embassy said.

The US government urged Americans who may be at risk of exposure to monitor their health and alert their healthcare providers if they develop symptoms consistent with Ebola.

Those at risk were advised to seek medical guidance before presenting themselves for medical care.

The embassy also urged travellers to monitor their health for 21 days after travelling to an area experiencing an Ebola outbreak.

Americans were further advised to continue taking malaria prophylaxis as prescribed by their doctors, with the embassy noting that symptoms of malaria can resemble those of Ebola and may result in unnecessary health concerns.

The alert also directs US citizens to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for information on Ebola and the CDC Travelers’ Health page for Kenya.

The embassy advised Americans to review its country page for general health information and consult its list of medical providers if they require medical assistance.

US citizens travelling or living in Kenya were also advised to check with their travel insurance providers about medical evacuation options should they fall ill while overseas.

The Kenyan government confirmed on Tuesday that the deceased was a 40-year-old Kenyan man who had lived in the DRC for about seven years.

According to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, the man became ill in the DRC and sought treatment at several health facilities before travelling by road to Kampala, Uganda.

He subsequently travelled to Nairobi aboard Jambojet flight 8523 and arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on October 3.

His condition later deteriorated and he was admitted to Nairobi Hospital, where he developed severe symptoms before dying on October 5.

Kenyan authorities have since intensified surveillance, contact tracing and other public health measures as they seek to identify and monitor people who may have been exposed to the virus.

President William Ruto has directed the National Security Council Committee (NSCC) to assess the situation following the death of a patient confirmed to have an imported case of Ebola Virus Disease in Kenya.

Following the NSCC meeting, the Government has stepped up surveillance, contact tracing and other public health measures to prevent further transmission.

Eight family members of the deceased have been placed under quarantine and are undergoing daily monitoring for symptoms, while 21 healthcare workers who attended to the patient have also been quarantined and are being closely monitored.

Authorities have also extended contact tracing to passengers who travelled on the same flight as the deceased when the patient entered Kenya.

So far, 27 passengers who may have come into contact with the deceased have been identified and contacted, with public health measures being implemented.

The deceased has since been safely buried in accordance with established public health protocols.

The Government said surveillance and rapid response teams are on the ground, building on preparedness measures and surveillance systems maintained since the Ebola outbreak began in May 2026.

As of October 6, 2026, Kenya had screened 652,584 travellers and tested 267 samples at five laboratories.

The laboratories include the National Virology Reference Laboratory (NVRL), KEMRI Nairobi, KEMRI Kisumu, and mobile laboratories deployed at the Busia and Lwakhakha border points.

Of the 267 samples tested, only one — belonging to the deceased patient — has returned positive. No additional positive cases have been detected.

The Government said 4,971 healthcare workers have been trained at national and sub-national levels on Ebola prevention, detection and management.

Kenya has also designated several facilities for Ebola case management. These include Kenyatta National Hospital, with eight beds; Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, with 50 beds; National Police Hospital, with 49 beds; and The Nairobi Hospital, with 143 beds. County-level isolation centres are also available, with the Government saying capacity will be expanded as necessary.

The Government has urged Kenyans to remain calm and vigilant while observing strict hand hygiene and avoiding contact with people displaying symptoms associated with Ebola.