Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have reported a widening of the Ebola outbreak in the country's eastern provinces, according to Al Jazeera. The disease, which has been present in the region for several months, is now affecting additional communities, prompting renewed alerts from national and international health agencies.
Kenya's Ministry of Health announced that a patient who recently returned from the DRC tested positive for Ebola, marking the first confirmed imported case in the country. The individual was admitted to a specialized treatment centre after developing symptoms consistent with the virus, and laboratory tests confirmed the infection. Authorities have begun contact tracing for all passengers who traveled on the same flight and for close contacts within Kenya.
Both the Congolese and Kenyan governments, together with the World Health Organization, have intensified response measures. In the DRC, vaccination campaigns are being expanded to cover new at‑risk zones, and mobile teams are conducting community sensitisation on safe burial practices and early reporting of symptoms. Kenya has deployed its own rapid response team, established isolation facilities, and is coordinating with neighboring countries to monitor cross‑border movement.
The resurgence of cases has heightened concerns for populations already coping with displacement and limited access to health services. Local leaders have urged residents to cooperate with health workers, while humanitarian organisations are scaling up the provision of personal protective equipment and medical supplies to affected areas.
International partners, including the United Nations and donor nations, have pledged additional resources to support containment efforts. The situation remains fluid, and health authorities continue to advise travelers to the region to follow strict preventive guidelines and to seek medical attention promptly if symptoms appear.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Al Jazeera — All News — original source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/11/ebola-spreads-in-eastern-drc-as-kenya-confirms-imported-case?traffic_source=rss.