Jambojet Responds After Passenger Who Tested Positive for Ebola Dies

Jambojet has responded after a passenger who travelled from Entebbe, Uganda, to Nairobi on one of its flights tested positive for Ebola and later died.

In a statement on Tuesday, October 6, the airline said it was aware of reports concerning the passenger, who travelled on Saturday, October 3, on flight JM 8523 from Entebbe to Nairobi.

Jambojet said it was collaborating with government health agencies as part of the ongoing public health response.

"We are working closely with the Ministry of Health, Port Health Services and other relevant authorities to support the ongoing public health response, including the identification and management of the other guests and crew who may have been in contact with the individual," the statement read.

Jambojet said it would continue prioritising the health and safety of passengers, crew and staff as authorities handle the situation.

"The health and safety of our guests, crew and staff remains our highest priority. We will continue to provide updates as and when it becomes available," the statement added.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health said the patient was a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for the past seven years.

The Ministry said he fell ill about a month ago and received treatment at several hospitals while in the DRC.

The patient travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala before boarding Jambojet flight to Nairobi. 

He arrived in Nairobi on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 1:10 pm and underwent the normal public health screening at the Port Health and Immigration desk.

After arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the patient was transported directly to Nairobi Hospital by a relative and a friend using a Toyota Fielder vehicle.

He was quickly isolated in a separate room at the hospital's Accident and Emergency department before being transferred to the East Wing Isolation Facility.

The patient presented with fever, chills, intense fatigue and weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing, sore throat and bleeding under the skin at injection sites.

"Based on the above presentation and history of travel to DRC the doctor considered this a case of Viral Haemorrhagic Fever and collected a sample for testing which turned positive for Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the KEMRI Lab," the statement read.

The Ministry said the patient was given supportive treatment but later died.

"The patient was given supportive treatment but regrettably passed on last night. We take this opportunity to pass our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the departed," the statement added.

The Ministry said preparations for the burial of the deceased were underway, with the process expected to follow established Ebola safety protocols.

"Arrangements for safe and dignified burial of the deceased are ongoing, and the burial is planned for later today in line with the Ebola safe and dignified burial protocols," the statement further read.

According to the Ministry, Health authorities have begun tracing people who may have come into contact with the deceased, including family members, healthcare workers and passengers who travelled on the same flight.

"So far we have listed 28 contacts of the deceased including family members and health workers who attended to the deceased. 

"We are also pursuing a further 23 passengers and 4 crew members who were on the same flight with the deceased. Arrangements for quarantine of those at risk to protect the public is ongoing," the statement noted.