Kenya confirms four new Ebola cases, including three health workers

Kenya has confirmed four new cases of Ebola (Bundibugyo Virus Disease), bringing the total number of confirmed cases to seven, including the first patient who died.

The Ministry of Health said the latest cases involve a close male relative of the deceased patient and three health workers who attended to him in hospital.

In a statement issued on Saturday, October 17, 2026, Director General for Health Patrick Amoth said all four patients had developed fever as their first symptom before testing positive for the disease.

The cases were confirmed by both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratory.

“The patients are currently receiving supportive care from our trained health workers,” Amoth said.

He added that the second and third patients were stable and responding well to treatment.

The three health workers comprise two men and one woman aged 29, 35 and 32, respectively. They attended to the first patient at the hospital between October 3 and 4, 2026.

According to the ministry, the health workers had been in quarantine since October 9 and were receiving supportive care at the designated treatment facility.

The newly confirmed male patient, a close relative of the deceased, had been in quarantine since October 6.

Amoth said the early detection of all four cases had helped limit the risk of further transmission to their families and the wider community.

“Since all the four new cases have been in quarantine, they were diagnosed early limiting risk of further spread of the disease,” he said.

The ministry maintained that the risk to the general public remained low, citing the absence of evidence of community transmission.

128 contacts traced

The Ministry of Health said 128 of the 130 contacts identified in connection with the outbreak had been traced and placed in quarantine, representing 98.5 per cent.

The figure is above the global contact tracing benchmark of 85 per cent required to break the chain of transmission, according to the ministry.

Efforts are ongoing to trace and quarantine the two remaining contacts.

The ministry cautioned that additional cases could emerge among people already in quarantine before the end of their 21-day monitoring period.

It said anyone who develops symptoms during this period would be detected and treated promptly.

The ministry is also closely monitoring four family members of the deceased patient and all health workers who cared for him during his hospital stay. People in quarantine continue to receive mental and psychosocial support from healthcare teams.

No travel or trade restrictions

Amoth reassured Kenyans that the country remained open for business, with no restrictions imposed on travel, trade or public gatherings.

He urged the public to remain calm and vigilant as the government works to contain the outbreak.

The ministry warned that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a sick or deceased person, not through the air.

People experiencing fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding have been urged to report to the nearest health facility immediately.

Kenyans seeking information and guidance can call the Ministry of Health toll-free line on 719 or consult its official website and social media platforms for updates.

“Early reporting saves lives,” the ministry said.