Ebola patient travelled across three countries without any check detecting the infection
A 40-year-old Kenyan businessman, later confirmed as Kenya's first Ebola case before dying on 5 October in Nairobi, travelled through DR Congo, Uganda and Kenya over nearly six weeks without his illness being detected. The case has raised questions about the three countries' biosecurity.
A Kenyan businessman infected with Ebola spent almost six weeks moving through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda and Kenya without any health check identifying his illness. The 40-year-old was diagnosed only after arriving seriously ill at a hospital in Nairobi, becoming Kenya's first confirmed Ebola case. He died on 5 October. The episode has prompted questions about the three countries' preparedness at a time when more than 4,000 people have died of Ebola in the DRC this year, making it the second deadliest known outbreak.
The route through DR Congo
Africa CDC, the continent's leading public health agency, has reconstructed the man's movements. He had lived in the DRC for seven years and travelled on business through three provinces. Where and when he caught the virus is unclear, but the World Health Organization (WHO) says Ebola was present in all three provinces by early October.
He spent late August and early September in Bas-Uélé province. His symptoms began around 15 September; he was given antibiotics and sent home. Two days later he was admitted to a health centre in Bondo, staying until 19 September. Despite a fever and rash, he was diagnosed with a skin infection, and no Ebola test was taken. He then flew to Kisangani, where he sought care for more than 10 days. On 1 October he flew to Beni and travelled on to Kasindi, a border town in North Kivu province, which has recorded 1,755 Ebola cases.
Uganda and Kenya
The same day he crossed into Uganda; it is unclear whether he passed an official health checkpoint. He travelled by road to Kampala and Entebbe International Airport, and flew to Nairobi on 3 October. Ugandan officials say his temperature was normal at airport screening, and Africa CDC is examining whether medication could have suppressed a fever. He was also not flagged at Nairobi's airport, and a relative drove him to Nairobi Hospital, a private facility. Laboratory tests confirmed the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, the same one behind the DRC outbreak.
Kenya's government has identified 66 people who may have had contact with him, and the WHO expects the number to grow. Kenya's health ministry says more than 652,000 travellers have been screened.
