On Thursday, March 26, Kenyan authorities confirmed the country's first coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-related death. No further details on the patient were immediately provided.
As of Thursday, there are 31 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. The further international spread of the virus is expected over the near term.
Kenya Confirms First Covid-19 Death
The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31, and the outbreak's source has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan. Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.
On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.
Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and labored breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. Influenza, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.