Kenya confirms first case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus

The present outbreak in DR Congo has been brought on by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which is comparatively uncommon, with no authorised vaccine or remedy.

​​There are nonetheless 4 vaccines in growth, with human trials for one of them being launched in July.

Duale confirmed that the Kenyan nationwide had examined constructive for the Bundibugyo species.

According to the minister, the affected person first travelled by street from DR Congo to the Ugandan capital Kampala, the place he boarded a flight to Nairobi

Duale mentioned that after being taken to the Nairobi Hospital, the affected person was transferred to an isolation facility which was constructed through the Covid-19.

It was there that the affected person “developed fever, chills, intense fatigue and weak point, painful swallowing, muscle ache and bleeding underneath the pores and skin”.

“Doctors suspected a viral haemorrhagic fever based mostly on his signs and journey historical past and picked up samples for testing. The pattern examined constructive for Ebola Bundibugyo virus,” Duale mentioned.

The affected person died at 23:30 (20:30 GMT) on Monday and his burial is deliberate for afterward Tuesday in keeping with public well being security protocols.

At least 28 contacts, together with relations and healthcare staff, have been recognized, whereas well being authorities are tracing an extra 23 passengers and 4 crew members who travelled on the identical flight.

The WHO has recorded 4,082 deaths out of 8,463 instances within the present outbreak, making it the biggest ever recorded in DR Congo, the place Ebola was first found.

Medical charity MSF believes the present toll may very well be even larger due to gaps in surveillance and testing within the war-torn nation.

On Monday, MSF mentioned the virus was spreading “like a megafire”, with new hotspots rising in North Kivu province, which borders Ituri the place the virus started.

Since early September this has “intensified dramatically” with the province now accounting for almost 40% of all newly confirmed instances nationwide, MSF mentioned.