The disease has recently reached two major African economies, raising concerns over containment efforts.
Kenya and Nigeria both confirmed cases in October. In Kenya, a 40-year-old man who returned from the DRC died on 5 October. A relative later died on 24 October. Since then, three more relatives, three health workers, and a hospital cleaner have tested positive. At the time of reporting, 134 people were under quarantine. The Kenyan authorities said the deceased patient “fell ill about a month ago and received treatment at several hospitals in the DRC”. He then travelled by road to Kampala before boarding Jambojet flight 8523 to Nairobi, arriving on 3 October.
Nigeria confirmed its first case in over a decade on 20 October in Abuja. The patient was the Ugandan-born wife of a Swiss diplomat. She had arrived on a flight from Uganda and was evacuated to Switzerland on Monday 26 October; fifty-three close contacts were isolated or being monitored. Nigerians have questioned why the country’s first patient was only tested for Ebola 13 days after falling ill, as she had reportedly initially sought treatment in hospital for malaria.
Containment Efforts and Public Reassurance
The arrival of Ebola in Kenya and Nigeria has focused attention on the Bundibugyo strain, which has no vaccine and a fatality rate of nearly 50%. Nigerian Health Minister Pate called the case “contained,” referencing the country’s successful response to a 2014 outbreak. He urged the public to follow health directives.
Kenyan Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale also sought to reassure citizens. On 7 October, he stated that Kenya was not experiencing an outbreak and that systems were in place to respond. However, the deceased patient in Kenya reportedly received treatment in DRC hospitals for about a month before traveling to Nairobi, prompting questions about border screening speed. Kenya was still strengthening its response to cross-border risks after the first case was announced, with some isolation centres listed merely as “identified” and another “undergoing renovation”.
International Response and Growing Concerns
Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said the Nigerian case forced an expansion of the at-risk country list. The real numbers could be much higher.
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