A suspected case of Ebola Virus Disease caused panic in Uasin Gishu County, triggering a public health response as authorities await laboratory confirmation.
A report by the Uasin Gishu Situation Report (SPOTREP) had stated that the patient, a 29-year-old Kenyan male truck driver, has been isolated at St. Luke’s Hospital after presenting Ebola symptoms.
“The suspected case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was identified in St. Lukes Hospital, Kapsoya Ward, Ainabkoi Sub-County, Uasin Gishu County on 20th January 2025. He was a walk-in patient who arrived at 4 am on 20th May 2026,” the statement read.
However, the report has been strongly disputed by county health leadership.
Speaking to The Kenya Times, Uasin Gishu County Health Director Dr. Evans Kiprotich dismissed the claims, stating that no suspected Ebola cases had been recorded in the county.
“We currently don’t have any suspected cases in any health facility in Uasin Gishu. Not even in St. Luke,” said Kiprotich.
Suspected Ebola Case in Uasin Gishu County
According to the SPOTREP, the patient traveled from Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and entered Kenya through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on 18th May 2026.
On arrival in Kenya, the suspected patient stayed in Nairobi before traveling to Eldoret on 19th May 2026, where he visited a relative in Maili 4 Estate.
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The report reveals that the patient began experiencing illness on 13th May 2026 while still in Lubumbashi and was admitted at the Diamant Medical Center.
He was treated for hypovolemic shock secondary to sepsis, malaria, and typhoid fever before continuing his journey to Kenya.
On 20th May 2026 at approximately 4:00 in the morning, he walked in as a patient at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kapsoya Ward, Ainabkoi Sub-county in Uasin Gishu County.
Following a clinical assessment, healthcare workers identified symptoms consistent with the suspected Ebola case.
Immediate infection prevention and control protocols were initiated, and the patient was placed in isolation.
Clinical Presentation and Hospital Response
The patient reportedly exhibited a range of symptoms, including
- General body weakness
- Vomiting
- Non-bloody diarrhoea
- Headache
- Lack of appetite
- Epigastric fullness
- Dark-coloured urine
On examination, his vital signs were recorded as blood pressure 113/76 mmHg, pulse rate 75 beats per minute, and oxygen saturation of 95% on room air.
Abdominal examination revealed epigastric tenderness but no organ enlargement.
Laboratory screening indicated the presence of malaria parasites, with a blood smear showing 15 Plasmodium falciparum trophozoites per 200 fields.
Despite the malaria finding, the patient has been isolated at within St. Luke’s Hospital due to his travel history and symptoms aligning with Ebola Virus Disease.
Blood samples were collected on 20th May 2026 and transported to the National Public Health Viral Laboratory for confirmatory testing. Results are currently pending.
Public Health Response and Ongoing Challenges
Following the detection of the suspected case, county health authorities briefed the County Executive Committee for Health, County Health Officers, and national-level emergency response personnel.
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Line listing and contact tracing activities were immediately initiated to identify individuals who may have been exposed during the patient’s travel.
However, the response has faced several operational challenges, including limited availability of Ebola personal protective equipment across county, delays in laboratory turnaround time, logistical constraints affecting specimen transport, and increased anxiety among healthcare staff managing the suspected case.
Global Ebola Virus InterventionÂ
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus raised concern over the worsening Ebola outbreak in the DRC, confirming that 82 cases and 7 deaths have been confirmed.
In Uganda, the situation remains stable with two confirmed cases and one death, with no new infections or fatalities reported.Â
He also confirmed that an American national working in the DRC tested positive and was transferred to Germany for treatment.
The Ministry of Health in Rwanda has confirmed that, currently, there are no Ebola cases in the country.
As a precautionary measure, Rwanda has strengthened screening and entry controls at border points and the Kigali International Airport.
Foreign nationals who have traveled to or transited through the DRC within the last 30 days will be denied entry. Rwandan citizens and legal residents with recent travel history to the DRC will be allowed entry but will undergo mandatory quarantine in line with public health protocols.
