Kenyan Woman Who Arrived in Nairobi from the US Tests Positive for Coronavirus, Kenya’s First Case

Kenya has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday.

In a press briefing, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the female patient arrived in Nairobi from the United States via London.

“The case was confirmed yesterday (Thursday). She was confirmed positive by the National Influenza Lab,” said Kagwe.

"She passed through Ohio, Chicago, London before arriving in Nairobi on March 5th, she is very responsible as she took herself to hospital and has given us a list of all those she interacted with."

He added that the 27-year-old Kenyan woman is in stable condition and her temperature has reduced to normal.

She is receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and everyone she came into contact with has been traced.

“What we have is a coronavirus positive test. There is no cause for alarm, continue with regular activities,” noted Kagwe.

As a result, CS Kagwe announced the suspension of all public gatherings, meetings, games, events, and church crusades. Also canceled are all inter-school games and visits to prisons for the next 30 days.

“Churches can have services as long as they have sanitizer,” added Kagwe.

Kenya becomes the first East African nation to confirm a case of the dreaded virus that originated in China’s Wuhan city late last year.

Other African countries with cases of coronavirus include Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal, DR Congo, Tunisia, Algeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, Gabon, and Togo.

The global coronavirus death toll currently stands at over 4,990 while more than 134,000 other people have been infected in over 100 countries. Most of the fatalities and infections are in mainland China.