Wajir County has reported negative preliminary laboratory results for a 20-year-old man who was being assessed for a suspected Ebola virus disease infection after travelling from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Uganda to Kenya.
Governor Ahmed Abdullahi announced the results on Thursday, October 8, saying the patient had been reported at Habaswein Sub-County Hospital in Wajir South Sub-County.
The patient’s travel history and clinical presentation prompted health officials to collect samples for testing, according to the county government. The negative preliminary result eased concerns about a possible second Ebola case in Kenya.
Patient to Continue Receiving Medical Care
In his statement, Governor Abdullahi said the patient would continue receiving medical care as health officials monitored his condition in line with established public health protocols.
“These results are reassuring. The County Department of Health and the Ministry of Health will continue to monitor the patient and provide appropriate medical care in accordance with established public health protocols,” the governor said.
He commended health workers at Habaswein Sub-County Hospital, the county Department of Health and the Ministry of Health for responding to the suspected case.
The governor also urged residents to remain calm and avoid sharing unverified information that could cause unnecessary fear and panic.
He advised the public to rely on official communication from the county government and the Ministry of Health.
The 20-year-old man reportedly works with a cargo truck and had travelled through the DRC, Uganda and several parts of Kenya before arriving at his residence on September 20.
Initial reports said he had developed a severe illness while in the DRC on September 2 and had not responded to treatment.
His travel history prompted further assessment and laboratory testing after he was reported at the hospital in Wajir.
The county’s announcement provided reassurance regarding this suspected case, although officials said the patient would remain under medical observation.
Kenya Monitoring Contacts After First Confirmed Case
The Wajir update came days after Kenya confirmed its first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease. The patient, a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the DRC, travelled through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi on October 3.
The Ministry of Health said laboratory tests confirmed the infection and that the patient later died. Authorities subsequently began contact tracing and other public health measures.
The developments have heightened attention on cross-border health surveillance and the importance of identifying and assessing suspected cases quickly.
Health authorities have urged the public to follow official updates as surveillance and contact-tracing efforts continue.
