Kenya has confirmed a second Ebola case, ten days after a businessman died of the disease. He had travelled to the East African country from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the health ministry says the new patient is closely linked to him.
The new patient is a 39-year-old man and a close relative of the first case. He was already in quarantine when he became ill on Tuesday, the ministry said.
Early detection and calls for calm in Kenya
The ministry said catching the illness early had improved the man’s chances of recovery and reduced the risk of him passing the virus to others. It urged the public to ‘stay calm but vigilant’.
Ebola incubation ranges from two to 21 days, so people who have been exposed may not fall ill for several weeks. The ministry added: “Both cases are linked, and there is no evidence of spread in the wider community.”
Contact tracing of 128 people in Kenya
The first patient, a 40-year-old Kenyan man, died on 5 October after being diagnosed shortly following admission to a hospital in the capital, Nairobi. A relative had collected him from the airport, and his illness went undetected as he travelled from DR Congo through Uganda to Kenya.
Officials determined that he had been in contact with 128 people. The ministry said 113 of them had been found since Tuesday, with 108 in quarantine in Kenya and tracing of the remaining 15 continuing.
Ebola outbreak in DR Congo continues
More than 4,000 people have died from Ebola in DR Congo this year, making it the second most deadly known outbreak to date. The current outbreak began in May and is caused by the Bundibugyo species, which is relatively rare.
There is no approved vaccine or treatment for that species, although trials are under way.
