Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, or BVD, a form of Ebola. In a release dated 6 October, the WHO Regional Office for Africa said the patient, a Kenyan citizen living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), fell ill there and was treated at several health facilities. The patient then travelled by road to Kampala, Uganda, through Beni on 2 October, and "flew to Nairobi, arriving on 3 October 2026". They were isolated in a Nairobi hospital, tested positive at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), and died on the night of 5 October.
What WHO says
Health authorities have listed 28 contacts, including family members and health workers, and are tracing "23 passengers and four crew members" from the same flight, with follow-up and quarantine being arranged for those assessed to be at risk. WHO said "Kenya is the fourth country to confirm BVD", after the DRC, where an outbreak is ongoing, Uganda, which ended its latest outbreak in August, and France, which reported a travel-related case in June. It also said: "There are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease." The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, said: "The priority now is to move swiftly to detect any further cases before the virus has an opportunity to spread."
On travel, the release says: "WHO advises against any restriction of travel to, or trade with, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or Kenya based on the currently available information".
At the UN noon briefing on 6 October, the spokesperson said: "Kenyan authorities rapidly identified, isolated, and tested the case." On the DRC, the briefing said: "Transmission has accelerated in recent days in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, which accounted for more than 94 per cent of the new cases." It added that movement restrictions introduced on 5 October on several key roads in North Kivu "could further constrain humanitarian access, the movement of aid workers and the continuity of response operations in some locations".
What the FCDO says
The FCDO's Kenya entry requirements say travellers arriving in Kenya, particularly from Uganda, Ethiopia and the DRC, may be subject to enhanced health screening because of the Ebola outbreak centred in the DRC. At the time of writing, the FCDO's Kenya advice was last updated on 4 September, before this case was confirmed.
What it means for operators
The case moved from eastern DRC by road through Beni to Kampala and then by air to Nairobi, between 2 October and 3 October, which shows how quickly an exposure can cross three countries. Teams moving principals between eastern DRC, Uganda and Kenya, or transiting Nairobi, should expect enhanced health screening, keep a record of routes and contacts for each team member, and agree in advance who to call if anyone develops symptoms. With no approved vaccine or specific treatment, prevention and early isolation are the main controls. WHO opposes travel and trade restrictions, so do not assume borders or flights will close, and watch the FCDO and UKHSA for any change to their advice. In North Kivu, the new road restrictions could slow aid and response movements, so plan extra time and confirm routes before each move.
