Kenya has recorded its third confirmed case of the Bundibugyo virus disease, an Ebola strain that has claimed thousands of lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The latest patient, a 65-year-old woman, is reportedly a primary contact and close relative of the first two cases and had been placed in quarantine since October 6.

According to the country's Health Ministry, the patient was isolated after developing a fever and sore throat, with subsequent tests confirming the infection. Officials allegedly insist that there is no community spread of the disease and that public risk remains low, claiming that the vast majority of traced contacts are currently in quarantine.

Efforts to contain the outbreak continue to face major hurdles because the Bundibugyo strain lacks any licensed vaccine, leaving medical workers reliant on supportive care. Meanwhile, the geographic footprint of the epidemic appears to be expanding, with new cases reportedly detected in additional Congolese provinces.

In parallel with the health crisis, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has raised concerns over financial transparency. Aid monitoring data purportedly indicates that hundreds of millions of dollars intended for the Ebola response remain unaccounted for by organizations handling donor funds.

Source: www.aljazeera.com