NAIROBI, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Ministry of Health on Friday confirmed a second death from the ongoing Ebola outbreak after a 65-year-old woman succumbed to the virus.
The patient, the country's third confirmed case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease, died while undergoing treatment at an infectious disease unit, according to the ministry.
The deceased was a close family member and direct contact of Kenya's first fatality in the outbreak, said Patrick Amoth, director-general for health in the ministry. "Her passing is a painful reminder that Ebola is a serious disease that can be fatal, and patients can change their condition suddenly without warning."
Trained teams will conduct the burial with full respect for the family's wishes and beliefs, while taking all necessary measures to protect both the family and the community from potential infection, Amoth said.
The latest loss brings the total fatalities to two among the nine confirmed cases in Kenya. The remaining seven patients continue to receive care in two isolation facilities, Amoth said, noting that all cases remain confined to a single cluster of known contacts, with no evidence of community transmission. ■
