Kenya announces second Ebola death, says ‘no evidence’ of community spread

Kenya has announced its second death from Ebola, the country's health ministry said on Friday, insisting there is no evidence the virus is spreading in the community. The announcement underlines the growing reach of an outbreak that began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The latest victim was a 65-year-old woman. Seven Ebola patients are currently receiving treatment at two isolation facilities, and all cases are within one cluster, the ministry said.

Kenya's first Ebola case was identified earlier this month in a man who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and later died. Health authorities have since traced 135 contacts, all of whom were placed in quarantine.

The outbreak in Africa is widening. The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak in May and has since reported more than 9,000 cases. The virus has now been reported in four countries across eastern, central and western Africa, with Nigeria becoming the fourth country to report a case on Tuesday.

Neighbouring Uganda has moved to restrict entry for travellers arriving from the DRC. The country has recorded 20 infections, almost all in people who had travelled from the DRC, and two deaths.

The World Health Organization has described the outbreak as "more complex" as it spreads across borders.