Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale says Kenya could be declared free of Ebola in the next 21 days if no new cases are reported during that period.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Sunday, October 25, Duale said the country must complete 42 days without a new confirmed or probable case to be declared Ebola-free.
As of Monday, October 26, Kenya had reached the 21-day mark since the outbreak began on October 2. The government says the cases reported so far have been linked to the first imported case, with no new community transmission reported.
“The people who tested positive are not from the wider community. They are those in quarantine who had contact with the first case. We have contained it, and the next time Kenya will be free of Ebola will be when we reach 42 days. That is when we will declare Kenya Ebola-free; right now we are at 21 days,” Duale said.
The 42-day period follows the World Health Organisation’s requirement that a country record no new confirmed or probable cases for twice the virus’s maximum incubation period, which is 21 days.
The Ministry of Health also reported that more than 551 suspected cases had been tested in the previous 48 hours, with all returning negative results.
Nearly 20 People Set for Release from Quarantine
The government is also preparing to release nearly 20 people who were placed in quarantine after coming into contact with the first imported case.
Duale said the individuals had completed their 21-day quarantine period and would be released if they tested negative and showed no symptoms.
The ministry has been testing those in quarantine every 48 hours to check for signs of infection.
“Those who served the 21 days; today is the 20th since the outbreak. If tomorrow they are negative, almost half of them, we will do the clinical analysis, all the protocols, and they will be safe to go back to their families,” Duale said.
The government has also reported that all identified contacts of the imported case have been traced and placed under supervision.
Kenya has so far reported nine Ebola cases and two deaths, according to the figures provided by the Ministry of Health.
The ministry has urged the public to report Ebola-related emergencies through its toll-free line, *719, by dialling 719# or sending a WhatsApp message to 0700 719 719.
