The first group of people quarantined after exposure to Ebola is expected to begin returning home on Sunday, October 25, the Ministry of Health has announced.
Health Director-General Patrick Amoth explained that the individuals who were among contacts that were placed under monitoring after Kenya confirmed its first Ebola case on October 6 would be leaving quarantine facilities after completing the mandatory 21-day monitoring period without developing symptoms.
He disclosed that the discharge exercise would be overseen by the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI).
“Our first contacts will begin leaving the quarantine facilities on Sunday. The team will be led by the Kenya National Public Health Institute’s (KNPHI) Acting Director-General Dr. Kamene Kimenye,” he stated during an engagement on October 21.
Health Director General Dr Patrick Amoth addressing the press at Afya House, Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
Photo
MoH
Amoth urged Kenyans to remain alert while avoiding panic, noting that the country was still working to contain the infections.
“We are not out of the woods, but we want to assure you. Remain calm and vigilant, but there is no need to panic. So far, the cases are clustered around the index case, with no case of community transmission,” he added.
He said the absence of further transmission would allow authorities to begin the official 42-day countdown towards declaring the country free of Ebola once the required conditions are met.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) requires 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed or probable case before an Ebola outbreak can be declared over.
The countdown begins the day after the last patient tests negative twice, at least 48 hours apart, or after the last patient dies and is safely buried.
Amoth’s update comes after the Ministry confirmed nine infections in the country, with the latest involving a 24-year-old man who was already in quarantine when he tested positive.
By October 20, health officials said 134 of the 135 contacts identified in connection with the cases had been traced and quarantined.
The Government of India donated Ebola response supplies worth Ksh83.4 million to support Kenya’s efforts to contain the spread of the Bundibugyo virus, including 6,000 PPE kits, 30,000 N95 masks and more than 86,000 sample transport kits.
The donation prompted calls from medical laboratory professionals for risk allowances, adequate protective equipment, training and insurance cover for workers handling potentially infectious samples.
The Ministry has urged the public to report Ebola-related emergencies through its toll-free line 719, by dialling *719# or via WhatsApp on 0700 719 719.
An image of a modern quarantine facility, with an insert of a medic displaying a sample of the Ebola Virus.
Photo
The Asian Age/CDC