- The Ministry of Health in Nairobi has announced that the first group of Ebola contacts will begin leaving quarantine from Sunday, October 25
- All 135 contacts linked to the index case have been traced both within Kenya and abroad, with foreign health authorities formally notified
- Eight patients remain in isolation facilities and are stable, while all 14 samples collected in the last 24 hours tested negative
The Ministry of Health has confirmed that the earliest quarantined contacts from the country's first imported Ebola (Bundibugyo Virus Disease) case will begin returning home from Sunday, October 25, after completing 21 days of health monitoring without falling ill.
Source: UGC
This follows the confirmation of Kenya's first case on October 6.
In a press statement Thursday, October 22, Director General for Health Patrick Amoth said contacts who have completed their full monitoring period and remain in good health pose no public health risk and "cannot pass the infection to anybody."
Amoth appealed to communities to welcome the returning individuals without prejudice.
"Their sacrifice has helped keep Kenya safe," he said, urging neighbours, workplaces and families to receive them warmly.
No New Cases or Community Spread
Kenya's response has shown consistent progress. The total number of confirmed cases stands at nine, including the index patient, who died on October 5.
Health authorities confirmed that all cases belong to a single cluster with no evidence of community spread.
The eight remaining patients, comprising four family members and four health workers who cared for the first case, are held in designated isolation facilities and are responding well to treatment.
Epidemiological mapping confirmed that each patient had close contact with the index case between October 3 and October 5, before they entered quarantine, and developed symptoms within Ebola's known incubation window of 2 to 21 days.
The ministry said no transmission has been traced to activity inside quarantine facilities, where infection prevention and control protocols have been strengthened.
All 135 contacts linked to the index case have been traced, including those abroad. Health authorities in the relevant countries were formally notified under the International Health Regulations.
Surveillance and Screening Continue Nationwide
Enhanced surveillance remains active across all counties and at points of entry, where 709,093 travellers have been screened since the outbreak began, including 3,107 in the most recent 24-hour period.
Amoth encouraged Kenyans to continue cooperating with response teams and to seek medical attention immediately if they experience fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pains, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding.
"Let us stand with our patients, contacts and health workers with compassion, not stigma. The end of this outbreak is within reach, and together we will get there."
A total of 461 samples have been tested since May 2026, when the outbreak was first recorded.
The ministry stressed that there are no restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings.
Kenyans can call the toll-free line 719 or contact the ministry's WhatsApp chatbot, Jali, on 0700 719 719.
Source: TUKO.co.ke