Kenya Confirms Imported Ebola Case

Health authorities in Kenya have confirmed the country’s first imported case of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, the World Health Organization reported Oct. 6. The patient, a Kenyan citizen, became ill while living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where there is an ongoing outbreak, before traveling through Uganda and flying to Nairobi on Oct. 3. The patient was isolated after arrival and died Oct. 5.

Kenyan authorities have listed 28 contacts and are tracing 23 passengers and four crew members from the same flight. Kenya is the fourth country to report a case in the current outbreak.

Information for Blood Collectors

The Food and Drug Administration’s June 29 safety and availability notice and updated Ebola guidance provide blood establishments with recommendations for assessing blood donor eligibility, donor deferral and blood product management related to Ebola disease outbreaks. The updated guidance applies to all orthoebolaviruses that cause Ebola disease in humans, including Bundibugyo virus.

AABB’s Ebola toolkit, Ebola donor screening documents (DHQ and flowcharts and educational materials), and Evaluating Donors for Risk of Ebola Disease provide resources for implementing donor screening for Ebola risk.

Blood establishments should continue implementing the additional donor screening measures described in Section III.B.2 of the FDA guidance until the agency advises that the measures may be discontinued.