Kenya reports second Ebola death

NAIROBI, Kenya (AFP)—Kenya on Friday reported its second Ebola death following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has now seen cases also spread to Uganda and Nigeria. Kenya had not reported a single case of the contagious virus until October 6, after a Kenyan man who had been living in the DR Congo died after returning home. The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak in May and has since reported over 9,000 cases. The deadly disease has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa over the past 50 years. Kenya's health ministry said on Friday that the latest death was of a 65-year-old woman who was "a direct contact and close family member of the first case (deceased) and was under quarantine when she developed symptoms on 13th October 2026." "This loss brings the number of deaths to two among the nine confirmed cases," it added. Kenya currently has seven Ebola cases, all receiving treatment at two isolation facilities, the health ministry said. All the cases are within "one cluster, with no evidence of community spread", it added. On Tuesday, the United States warned citizens against travel to Kenya after it reported an eighth Ebola case. Neighbouring Uganda recorded 20 people infected, almost all of whom had travelled from the neighbouring DRC, and two deaths, before being declared Ebola-free in August.