A 65-year-old woman who died of Ebola in Kenya has been buried under strict infection control measures, according to health authorities.
The woman, who passed away on Friday evening, was a close relative of the country’s first confirmed Ebola patient and is believed to have been his mother.
Health teams carried out the burial while trying to respect Muslim burial traditions and at the same time prevent any further spread of the virus. Officials said they worked with the family to arrange a safe and dignified burial that followed public health rules.
The woman was the third confirmed case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in Kenya. She had been placed under quarantine after contact tracing linked her to the first patient. She developed symptoms on 13 October while still in quarantine and was moved to an infectious disease unit the same day. Medical teams provided supportive care, but she died on 23 October.
Her death brings the number of Ebola deaths in Kenya to two. Nine people in total have tested positive for the virus. The remaining seven patients are receiving treatment at two isolation facilities. Health officials have stressed that all the cases belong to one known group of contacts. There is no sign so far that the virus has spread into the wider community.
Kenya recorded its first Ebola case earlier this month. A 40-year-old Kenyan man who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo travelled to Nairobi via Uganda and arrived on 3 October. He became ill, was taken to hospital, tested positive, and died on 5 October. Authorities then traced more than 130 people who had been in contact with him. Several relatives and some health workers later tested positive while already in quarantine.
Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth said the ministry had informed the woman’s family and was arranging the burial in line with both public health protocols and the family’s wishes. He also asked the public and the media to respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.
Officials continue to monitor contacts and screen travellers at airports and border points. They have repeated that there are no restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings.
The current outbreak remains limited to the original cluster of cases linked to the first patient.
Health teams say they are working to keep the situation under control while supporting the families affected.
