Kenya confirms eighth Ebola case as regional outbreak spreads

Kenya has confirmed one more ​Ebola case, bringing the total number of ‌infections in the country to eight, Reuters reported, citing Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth.

"Today, 38 people were tested, and one ​tested positive for Ebola," Amoth said in an ​interview on Kenya's Citizen TV.

"He is a ⁠49-year-old man who is not a healthcare worker. He ​developed fever, headache and muscle pain."

Amoth said the new ​case was a patient attendant who cleaned utensils and linens, and he was probably exposed to Kenya's first Ebola case, ​discovered earlier this month, in a man who travelled ​from Democratic Republic of Congo to Nairobi and died at a ‌Nairobi ⁠hospital on October 5.

The latest case developed symptoms on Saturday, was separated from other people in quarantine, and was tested for the virus with the result ​returning positive on ​Sunday, a ⁠health ministry source said.

Kenya has been on heightened alert, as a major Ebola outbreak ​centered in Congo has spread across borders ​in ⁠the region.

Congo confirmed on Sunday that its outbreak had spread to an eighth province, North Ubangi, underscoring concerns ⁠about ​wider regional transmission.

Congo's latest situation report showed 67 new confirmed cases and 26 ​new deaths in the 24 hours to ​Oct.16, ⁠bringing the cumulative total to 9,415 cases and 4,536 deaths since the outbreak began.