Kenya has confirmed four additional cases of Ebola, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to seven, including one death, as authorities intensify efforts to prevent further spread of the virus.
The Ministry of Health announced the latest infections on Saturday, October 17, saying the patients comprised a close male relative of the first patient and three healthcare workers who treated him while he was hospitalised.
According to Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, the three healthcare workers, two men and one woman aged 29, 35 and 32, respectively, developed symptoms after attending to the initial patient between October 3 and 4, 2026. The Ministry said the male relative had been placed in quarantine on October 6, while the three health workers had been under quarantine since October 9.
All four patients initially presented with fever and were isolated before samples were collected for testing. Laboratory results from the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) confirmed that they had contracted Bundibugyo virus disease.
The patients are receiving supportive care at designated treatment facilities. Meanwhile, the Ministry reported that the second and third patients previously confirmed were stable and responding well to treatment.
Health officials intensify Ebola contact tracing
Amoth said the early identification of the latest cases had been facilitated by quarantine measures, which helped health teams detect infections before further transmission could occur.
“The risk to the general public remains low as there is no evidence of community transmission of the disease,” the Ministry stated.
Health authorities have traced 128 of the 130 identified contacts, representing 98.5 per cent, and placed them in quarantine. The Ministry noted that this exceeds the 85 per cent contact-tracing benchmark it cited as important in breaking the chain of transmission.
Efforts are ongoing to locate the two remaining contacts. Those already in quarantine will continue to be monitored throughout the 21-day observation period. The Ministry cautioned that further infections could be detected among the contacts during this period. It assured the public that anyone who develops symptoms would be identified and provided with appropriate care.
Four family members of the deceased patient and healthcare workers who attended to him during his hospital stay are also under close monitoring.
Despite the increase in confirmed cases, the Ministry maintained that Kenya remains open for business, with no restrictions imposed on travel, trade or public gatherings. It urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms associated with Ebola.
The Ministry explained that the virus spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected or deceased person, rather than through the air. Health officials are continuing to monitor exposed individuals and manage confirmed cases as part of the wider effort to contain the outbreak.
