Kenya confirms second Ebola case in quarantined relative

Kenya confirmed its second Ebola case on Wednesday after a close relative of the country’s first patient developed symptoms while already in quarantine.

The 39-year-old man developed fever, fatigue and joint pain on Tuesday and was transferred to a designated treatment centre, where he is receiving supportive care, the Health Ministry said. Officials said the early detection reduced the likelihood of further transmission and that there was no evidence the virus had spread in the wider community.

The first patient, a 40-year-old Kenyan who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo, began feeling ill there before travelling overland through Uganda and flying to Nairobi on October 3. He was admitted to a Nairobi hospital and died on October 5. His infection was Kenya’s first confirmed Ebola case.

Authorities have identified 128 contacts linked to the first patient and had traced 113 of them as of Tuesday. Of those located, 108 were quarantined in Kenya and five were outside the country, where local health authorities were notified. Efforts were continuing to find the remaining 15 contacts.

Kenya strengthened screening after the first case, including enhanced checks for passengers arriving at Nairobi’s main international airport from 10 African countries. The cases are linked to the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, which is caused by the Bundibugyo species of the virus. Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids.