The latest patient is a 49-year-old hospital attendant who was already in quarantine after likely exposure to Kenya’s first Ebola patient.

Nairobi, Kenya — Kenya has confirmed its eighth case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease, with health authorities reporting that the latest patient was already in quarantine after being identified as a contact of the country’s first confirmed case.

Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth said the 49-year-old man worked as a patient attendant responsible for handling utensils and linens.

The patient developed fever, headache and muscle pain before testing positive during laboratory screening on Sunday. He was among 38 people tested that day.

Health officials said the latest infection was linked to Kenya’s first confirmed Ebola patient, who died in Nairobi on October 5 after travelling from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Uganda.

Kenya records eighth Ebola infection after four new cases

The latest diagnosis follows the confirmation of four infections on Saturday, including three healthcare workers who treated the first patient and a male relative of the deceased.

According to health authorities, all eight confirmed Ebola cases in Kenya have been traced to the initial patient.

The first patient had travelled from the DRC through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi, where he later died.

The identification of additional infections among known contacts has prompted continued monitoring of people who may have been exposed to the virus.

Kenya strengthens Ebola surveillance and contact tracing

Kenyan health authorities have intensified contact tracing, laboratory testing and disease surveillance to identify potential infections and limit further transmission.

The latest patient was already under quarantine when he developed symptoms, allowing health workers to detect the infection through ongoing monitoring.

Ebola virus disease can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, as well as contaminated materials.

Health officials are continuing surveillance as neighboring countries respond to the regional outbreak.

DRC Ebola outbreak spreads to additional province

The developments in Kenya come amid a widening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to figures attributed to the World Health Organization (WHO), the DRC had recorded 9,066 confirmed cases and 4,381 confirmed deaths across 65 health zones in seven provinces as of October 11.

Congolese authorities have also reported infections in North Ubangi, bringing the number of affected provinces to eight.

The geographical spread has heightened concerns about cross-border transmission, particularly along routes connecting the DRC with neighboring countries.

Kenya and other countries in the region have strengthened screening and surveillance measures as health authorities work to detect new infections and contain the outbreak.