Kenya’s first Ebola patient dies, CS Duale confirms

Kenya’s first confirmed Ebola patient has died while receiving treatment at Nairobi Hospital, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has said.

Duale said the patient underwent the normal public health screening at the Port Health facility at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) before proceeding through immigration.

He was then transported directly from JKIA to Nairobi Hospital by a relative and a friend.

At the hospital, the patient was quickly isolated in a separate room at the Accident and Emergency area before being transferred to the East Wing isolation facility.

Duale said the facility had previously been selected for Covid-19 treatment and had the necessary facilities to manage the patient.

The patient presented with fever, chills, intense fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing, a sore throat and bleeding under the skin at the injection site.

“Based on the above presentation and history of travel to DRC, the doctor collected the sample for testing and turned positive for Ebola,” Duale said.

He said the patient was given supportive treatment but died at around 11.30 pm on Monday night.

“The patient was given supportive treatment but regrettably passed on last night at around 11.30pm. We take this opportunity to pass our condolences to the family,” Duale said.

He said arrangements for a safe and dignified burial were ongoing and that the patient would be buried on Tuesday in line with Ebola-safe and dignified public health

protocols.