Woman, 65, becomes second patient to die of Ebola in Kenya

ByPatrick Jackson and Timothy Obiezu, West Africa Producer.

Key points

• With more than 9, 500 cases in DR Congo, Kenya faces a steady risk of new cases arriving throughout borders, according to the International Rescue Committee.
• More than 4, 000 individuals have died in Africa since Ebola was confirmed in DR Congo in May, making it the second most deadly outbreak of the disease.
• While neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Ethiopia and Somalia are additionally on alert, the US has cautioned its citizens against travelling to Kenya.
• Professor Ali Pate remarked there was no evidence so far that the Kenyan patient had travelled to Nigeria, but that further testing was under way.
• The Bundibugyo species of Ebola is relatively rare, with no approved vaccine or treatment – though trials are under way.

Kenya has recorded its second death from Ebola as it handles its first ever outbreak of the disease.

Notably, a woman, aged 65, who was a close family member of the first victim, a man who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo, died after being placed in quarantine, the health ministry remarked.

Seven other Ebola patients were receiving treatment at two isolation facilities, it continued.

All the cases were within "one cluster, with no evidence of community spread", the ministry remarked.

Kenya's latest victim was a "direct contact and close family member of the first case (deceased) and was under quarantine when she developed symptoms" on 13 October, the health ministry remarked.

Notably, the first death, on 5 October, was that of a man who fell ill in September and was treated in a number of hospitals in DR Congo before arriving in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, where he died a few days afterwards.

Those still being treated are three other relatives of the first victim, three health workers and a hospital cleaner.

Ebola is a rare but deadly disease, external caused by a virus. As the disease progresses, vomiting and diarrhoea develop and it can lead to organ failure. Some, but not all, patients develop internal and external bleeding.

In practice, the disease spreads from one person to another by contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood or vomit.

Notably, the Bundibugyo species of Ebola is relatively rare, with no approved vaccine or treatment – though trials are under way.

With more than 9, 500 cases in DR Congo, Kenya faces a steady risk of new cases arriving throughout borders, according to the International Rescue Committee. It has been working alongside both governments to contain the spread.

Kenya has introduced enhanced screening for travellers arriving from DR Congo and nine other countries it considers to be at high risk: Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Zambia, Ethiopia, South Sudan and the Central African Republic.

Travellers arriving from those countries are required to complete a digital surveillance form before boarding their flights, and to present a QR code to port health authorities on arrival.

As authorities seek to prevent further imported cases, kenya additionally ordered enhanced public health screening of aircraft arriving from those countries.

Within the country, the administration has been sharing public messages to create awareness concerning Ebola, including encouraging individuals to promptly report any suspected cases and seek care at a hospital.

It has additionally focused on hygiene and safety measures, such as washing hands and avoiding close contact with sick residents. Is Ebola under control in Kenya after nine cases confirmed? Woman with Ebola in Nigeria confirmed as wife of Swiss diplomat.

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In another development, Nigeria's health minister has remarked the country's single confirmed case of Ebola appears to be genetically related to a strain identified earlier in Kenya.

He emphasised that Nigeria had so far recorded only one confirmed case of the virus.

"We are conducting extra tests. While others are pending, " Pate remarked, some of the results are negative.

Health authorities have been investigating whether Nigeria's first case crossed paths with Kenya's first patient. Both are believed to have travelled through Uganda's Entebbe International Airport earlier this month.

Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.

Taken together, the developments around woman, 65, becomes second patient to die of Ebola in Kenya point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.