The United States Embassy in Nairobi has issued a health advisory to American citizens in Kenya following confirmation of the country’s first case of Ebola virus disease.
In the alert issued on Wednesday, October 7, the embassy described Ebola as a rare but serious illness that can be fatal and informed US nationals that Kenyan health authorities were conducting contact tracing.
According to the advisory, Kenya reported a case of Bundibugyo virus disease, a strain of Ebola, on October 6.
The embassy noted that the patient had travelled by road from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Uganda before flying to Nairobi aboard Jambojet flight 8523 on October 3, 2026.
The US mission urged Americans who develop symptoms consistent with Ebola to notify their healthcare providers, particularly if they believe they may have been exposed to the virus.
It advised individuals considered at risk to contact their healthcare providers for guidance before visiting a medical facility.
The embassy also reminded Americans in Kenya to continue taking malaria prevention medication as prescribed by their doctors.
It noted that malaria can produce symptoms similar to Ebola, potentially causing unnecessary concern or health scares.
The advisory further urged US citizens who have travelled to an area experiencing an Ebola outbreak to monitor their health for 21 days after leaving the affected area.
Kenya confirmed its first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease on Tuesday.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the patient was a Kenyan citizen who had lived in the DRC for seven years.
According to Duale, the man became ill approximately one month before his arrival in Kenya and received treatment at several hospitals in the DRC.
He subsequently travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala before taking Jambojet flight 8523 to Nairobi.
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The patient arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 1:10pm on Saturday, October 3, where he underwent routine screening by Port Health and Immigration officials.
A relative and a friend then transported him directly from the airport to Nairobi Hospital in a Toyota Fielder.
He was isolated shortly after arrival at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency department and later transferred to the East Wing Isolation Facility.
The patient exhibited several symptoms, including fever, chills, severe fatigue and weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing, sore throat and bleeding beneath the skin at injection sites.
Duale said the patient received supportive treatment but later died.
Following confirmation of the case, President William Ruto directed the National Security Council Committee (NSCC) to meet and assess the situation.
The committee was tasked with recommending measures to protect the country and prevent further spread of the Ebola virus.
