Jambojet is working with Kenya’s Ministry of Health and Port Health Services to trace passengers and crew who travelled on the same flight as a passenger who later tested positive for Ebola.
The passenger travelled from Uganda to Kenya aboard Jambojet flight JM8523 from Entebbe to Nairobi on October 3, according to health authorities. The airline has confirmed that it is cooperating with officials as they identify people who may have been exposed.
Kenya confirmed its first imported Ebola case after the passenger, a Kenyan citizen who had spent several years in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), tested positive for the virus. The patient later died while receiving treatment in Nairobi.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said authorities have identified 28 contacts linked to the deceased, including family members and healthcare workers. Officials are also seeking 23 passengers and four crew members who were on the Jambojet flight.
The contact-tracing exercise is aimed at identifying anyone who may have had close contact with the patient and ensuring that potentially exposed individuals are monitored for symptoms.
Health officials have stressed that being on the same aircraft does not automatically mean a person was exposed to Ebola. The virus is mainly transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials.
Kenya has intensified surveillance at airports and other points of entry following the confirmed case. More than 652,000 travellers have reportedly been screened, while health authorities have increased preparedness in hospitals and isolation facilities.
Jambojet said the safety of its passengers, crew and staff remains its highest priority and that it will continue supporting government agencies during the investigation.
Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and rely on official information while contact tracing continues. The immediate priority is to locate the remaining passengers and crew, monitor those considered at risk and prevent further transmission.
