Editor's Review

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi has announced that preliminary laboratory tests for a suspected Ebola virus disease case at Habaswein Sub-County Hospital have returned negative.

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi has announced that preliminary laboratory tests for a suspected Ebola virus disease case at Habaswein Sub-County Hospital have returned negative.

In a statement on Thursday, October 8, Governor Abdullahi said the patient, a 20-year-old man, had a travel history from the Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda to Kenya.

Governor Abdullahi said the patient’s clinical presentation and travel history prompted health officials to act swiftly in line with established public health protocols.

The health officials collected samples from the patient and sent them to the National Public Health Virology Laboratory in Nairobi for testing.

“Because of his clinical presentation and travel history, our health teams acted swiftly and in line with established public health protocols. Samples were collected and referred to the National Public Health Virology Laboratory in Nairobi for Ebola testing.

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“I am pleased to report that the preliminary laboratory results indicate that the sample is negative for Ebola Virus Disease,” Governor Abdullahi said. 

File image of medical personnel handling Ebola cases. 

The Wajir governor said the patient will continue being monitored despite testing negative for the Ebola virus. 

“The County Department of Health and the Ministry of Health (MOH) will continue to monitor the patient and provide appropriate medical care in accordance with established public health protocols,” he stated. 

Further, Governor Abdullahi urged Wajir residents to remain calm and avoid sharing unverified information that could cause unnecessary fear and panic.

“Please rely only on official communication from the County Government of Wajir and the Ministry of Health,” he stated. 

On Tuesday the Ministry of Health confirmed the first case of Ebola (Bundibugyo) virus disease in Kenya. 

In a statement on Tuesday, October 6, 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 Jambo Jet flight number 8523 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.

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

Following the confirmation of the case, President William Ruto ordered the National Security Council Committee (NSCC) to convene and assess the situation. 

 The President tasked NCSS to recommend necessary measures to safeguard the country from the Ebola virus.