Ebola outbreak spreads in DRC as Kenya confirms imported case

The Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus is expanding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with new cases reported in the Alimbongo health zone of North Kivu province. As of October 6, the WHO recorded 8,728 confirmed cases and 4,205 deaths in the DRC, with a case fatality ratio of 48.2 percent. While Ituri remains the most affected province in terms of cumulative cases, North Kivu is seeing an increasing share of new infections.

Adding to regional concerns, Kenya has confirmed its first imported case of the Bundibugyo virus. The deceased patient, a Kenyan citizen, had been living in the DRC and traveled through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi on October 3. Kenyan authorities have identified 28 contacts, including healthcare workers and family members, and are conducting contact tracing. Public health measures, including screening and tracing efforts, have been initiated in Kenya and Uganda to mitigate the risk of cross-border transmission.