The Ministry of Health has criticised measures imposed by Saudi Arabia over the Ebola situation in Kenya, describing them as excessive and unsupported by the country's current epidemiological situation.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, October 31, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale maintained that Kenya had contained the outbreak, with no evidence of community transmission and no new confirmed infections reported since October 19, 2026.
Duale said the government had swiftly responded after the index case was identified, tracing all 135 people who had come into contact with the patient and placing 118 of them under quarantine.
He noted that all eight confirmed Ebola cases were epidemiologically linked to the initial imported case, involving four healthcare workers and four close family members.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, no transmission had been recorded outside the cluster, with health authorities maintaining that the outbreak had not spread into the wider community.
The Ministry further disclosed that five of the seven patients still receiving treatment had returned their first negative Ebola test results after completing treatment.
The five patients are awaiting a second test scheduled for Monday, November 2, which will determine whether they have fully recovered and can be discharged.
Duale expressed optimism that the five patients would be cleared to return home on Tuesday, November 3, alongside 46 people currently under quarantine who have not developed any symptoms.
This will be in addition to 20 contacts who had previously been released from quarantine after completing the required monitoring period.
The Ministry, however, confirmed that it had lost one patient in addition to the index case, although it did not provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Duale said the progress made in managing the outbreak demonstrated that Kenya's containment measures were working and that the country was approaching a successful conclusion of the response.
"The measures taken are not only excessive but not backed by the current epidemiological situation in the country," Duale said, referring to the restrictions imposed by Saudi Arabia.
The statement comes amid concerns over the impact of international travel restrictions and other precautionary measures taken by foreign governments following the Ebola outbreak in Kenya.
The Cabinet Secretary urged the international community to support Kenya's response through cooperation and collaboration rather than imposing travel restrictions and isolating the country.
He said the government would continue engaging international partners to provide updates on the outbreak and reassure them of the measures being implemented to prevent further infections.
Duale also confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs would continue engaging the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the matter.
He thanked Kenyans for standing together during what he described as a difficult period, saying the country's response had demonstrated leadership and transparency.
"What we require from the international community is support and collaboration, not condemnation, not travel restrictions and certainly not isolation," he said.
The Cabinet Secretary maintained that Kenya would overcome the outbreak through collective efforts, adding that the government remained committed to protecting public health and containing the disease.
"Together as a united people we shall overcome," Duale said.
