Kenya has confirmed its first Ebola case after a citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo returned to Nairobi on Saturday.
Health Minister Aden Duale confirmed that the patient has since died, while authorities have identified 28 people who came into contact with the victim.
Those being monitored include family members and healthcare workers who may have been exposed to the virus, Duale said.
The case comes as the Democratic Republic of Congo battles its largest Ebola outbreak on record, which has been linked to the relatively rare Bundibugyo strain.
The outbreak was declared in May, although health officials believe the virus may have been circulating for several months before it was officially detected.
Congo has recorded more than 8,000 cases and over 4,000 deaths in the outbreak, which has continued to pose challenges for containment efforts.
The outbreak also spread to neighbouring Uganda, which reported 20 cases and two deaths before the World Health Organization declared the country free of Ebola in August.
The virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people, including those who have died. Symptoms can include fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, while severe cases may cause internal and external bleeding.
Goodness Anunobi
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