Kenya has reported its first-ever Ebola death, Health Minister Aden Duale announced on Tuesday, after a Kenyan man who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for seven years died in Nairobi. The case is the first time the current outbreak has led to a death outside the DRC since Uganda, which recorded 20 cases and two deaths, was declared Ebola-free in August.

According to Duale, the man, who has not been named, fell ill about a month ago and was treated in the DRC. He then travelled overland to the Ugandan capital, Kampala, and flew to Nairobi on 3 October. Reports differ on how he passed through airport screening; one account says he missed being picked up, while Kenyan authorities suggested medication he was taking may have masked his symptoms. A relative and a friend took him from the airport to Nairobi Hospital, where he was isolated. He tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the virus and died late on Monday night. Officials have listed 28 contacts, including family members and health workers, of whom only the patient has so far tested positive. They are also tracing 23 passengers and four crew members from his flight, and Duale urged the public not to panic, saying all systems were in place to limit the spread. Contacts are expected to remain in isolation for 21 days.

The case comes as the DRC faces its 17th Ebola outbreak, declared in May in the north-eastern province of Ituri and now spread to seven northern and eastern provinces. As of 2 October, the World Health Organization had recorded 4,082 deaths among 8,463 confirmed cases. There is still no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, although human trials of a vaccine began in July. The WHO has warned the epidemic could surpass the 2014–2016 West Africa outbreak, which killed more than 11,000 people, while advising against travel and trade restrictions.

Conditions in the DRC remain difficult. Médecins Sans Frontières warned of an "alarming surge" in North Kivu province, which borders Uganda and now accounts for 40% of new cases, up from 24% at the end of August. In the Butembo area, home to about 2 million people, only four treatment centres exist, forcing staff at times to refer confirmed patients elsewhere. North Kivu also recorded 134 violent incidents in the past month, and the response has been hampered by armed conflict, mistrust of authorities and cuts in international aid. The African Union's health agency, Africa CDC, said more than 70% of new cases are among people not previously traced as contacts, meaning transmission chains are escaping the response.

Africa CDC has sent a team to Kenya and its director general, Jean Kaseya, praised the rapid isolation and testing of the patient. The agency urged countries in the region to strengthen surveillance, cross-border information sharing and laboratory readiness. Kenya's case, it said, underscores that as long as transmission continues in the DRC, neighbouring countries remain at risk.