Historically Brutal Ebola Outbreak Crosses Border Into New Country

The deadly Ebola outbreak has reached a new African country.

Kenya has reported its first confirmed case in a man who arrived from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is struggling to contain thousands of infections in what has become the country’s largest outbreak on record and the second-largest worldwide.

According to Congolese government figures, the country has recorded more than 8,000 cases and 4,114 deaths, putting the fatality rate at about 48%. The outbreak has spread across seven provinces and 64 health zones. More than 2,220 people have recovered from the illness.

Kenya’s first case, a man who died Monday at a private hospital, has raised concerns about the possibility of the virus spreading across borders. Still, public health officials said authorities can contain isolated cases quickly when they put appropriate measures in place, according to The New York Times.

The Kenyan citizen had lived in Congo for seven years, fell ill about a month ago, and received treatment at hospitals in Congo, according to the outlet. After he returned to Kenya, health officials quickly isolated him from the general population. He later tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain, and, despite treatment, he died.

And Africa is not alone. In June, a French doctor tested positive for Ebola after returning home from a humanitarian mission in Congo, The Daily Wire previously reported.

Air France provided health authorities with its passenger list for the flight, according to France 24. The risk of a wider outbreak remained relatively low, particularly in France and elsewhere in Europe, where better access to hygiene and generally less crowded living conditions can help limit transmission.

Health officials isolated the infected doctor when he arrived in France, before he was officially diagnosed, the health ministry said. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s office said he was monitoring the situation “very closely.”

Ebola is a rare but sometimes fatal illness with early symptoms that may include fever, aches, pains, and fatigue. As the illness progresses, symptoms may shift to “wet” symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Ebola often spreads through contact with bodily fluids.

The CDC confirmed it is helping respond to an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in remote areas of Congo. So far, however, the agency has confirmed no cases linked to the outbreak in the United States.

The overall risk to the American public and travelers “remains low,” the health agency said.

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