Kenya reports no new Ebola cases as 108 contacts remain under quarantine

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale says all 122 contacts of the single imported case have been verified, with none developing symptoms, as multi-agency teams strengthen surveillance at points of entry.

A multi-agency national taskforce is coordinating Kenya’s public health response after the confirmation of a single imported Ebola case, with authorities reporting no new infections and no symptoms among people under monitoring.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said on Sunday that 122 contacts linked to the deceased patient have been listed and verified. Of these, 108 (88.5 per cent) are in quarantine and under daily health surveillance. None has developed symptoms so far. Tracing of any remaining contacts continues in collaboration with international partners where necessary.

The sole confirmed case involved a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and travelled through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi. The patient died on 5 October and was buried the following day under established public health protocols. Laboratory confirmation of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease was announced on 6 October.

Of 293 samples tested from 289 national alerts, only the index case returned a positive result. Authorities have screened more than 667,000 travellers at 26 points of entry, including 2,345 in the 24 hours preceding the latest update. Five designated laboratories, including mobile facilities at key border points, are supporting testing with results available within six to 12 hours.

Additional health screeners and rapid response teams have been deployed at major international airports, seaports and land border crossings. The public is encouraged to report any suspected symptoms through the Ministry of Health toll-free line 719. Domestic travel, public gatherings and local trade remain unrestricted, as containment measures are focused on the identified contacts.

Duale reassured citizens, international partners and tourists that Kenya remains safe. “Our health surveillance infrastructure is fully deployed and capable of containing any potential risks,” he said. Isolation capacity stands at 241 beds across five hospitals in Nairobi, Eldoret and Mombasa, with thousands of health workers trained in Ebola management and hundreds of responders on standby.

The National Taskforce, National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and National Incident Management System continue to coordinate the response. Early detection, swift isolation and strict contact tracing remain the core of the strategy.

Kenya has maintained heightened alert since the Bundibugyo outbreak was declared in the region earlier in 2026. Officials stress that the single imported case does not constitute an outbreak in the country.

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