Kenyan airline Jambojet says it is working with health authorities following confirmation that a passenger who travelled on one of its flights from Entebbe to Nairobi had Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the airline said the passenger was aboard flight JM 8523, which travelled from Entebbe to Nairobi on Saturday, October 3. Jambojet said it was coordinating with the Ministry of Health, Port Health Services and other relevant authorities as part of the ongoing public health response.
The airline said the collaboration includes supporting efforts to identify and manage passengers and crew members who may have come into contact with the affected individual.
Kenya Confirms First Imported Bundibugyo Ebola Case
The airline’s statement follows confirmation by the Ministry of Health that Kenya had recorded its first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease. According to the ministry, the patient was a Kenyan national who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for seven years. The patient travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala, Uganda, before boarding the Jambojet flight to Nairobi.
After arriving in Kenya, the patient was admitted to Nairobi Hospital after developing symptoms associated with viral haemorrhagic fever. The patient was later moved to an isolation facility as health officials investigated the illness. Laboratory tests carried out at the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) confirmed that the patient had Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease. The patient subsequently died while receiving treatment.
Health Authorities Trace Passengers and Crew
Following confirmation of the case, the Ministry of Health began contact-tracing efforts to identify people who may have been exposed to the patient. The ministry has so far identified 28 contacts, including family members and healthcare workers.
Health officials are also tracing an additional 23 passengers and four crew members who were aboard the same Entebbe-Nairobi flight. The contact-tracing exercise is intended to identify and monitor individuals who may have had contact with the patient as health authorities continue managing the public health response.
Jambojet Assures Passengers of Safety
Jambojet said it remains committed to the health and safety of its passengers, crew and staff as authorities respond to the confirmed case. The airline urged members of the public to rely on information provided through official channels as health authorities continue with contact tracing and other response measures. The airline’s cooperation with health officials comes as Kenya strengthens measures to monitor and manage the imported Ebola case and prevent further transmission.
