Kenya has reported no new Ebola cases since confirming its first imported case on October 6, 2026, with the Ministry of Health saying surveillance and containment measures remain in place across the country.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, October 11, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the patient, a Kenyan who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo through Uganda, died on October 5 and was given a safe and dignified burial the following day in accordance with established public health protocols.
The Ministry said all 122 contacts linked to the confirmed case had been listed and verified, with 108 people, representing 88.5 per cent, currently in quarantine and undergoing daily monitoring.
According to the statement, none of those under monitoring had developed symptoms at the time of the update.
Health officials are continuing efforts to trace the remaining contacts, with support from international partners where necessary.
The Ministry said 293 samples had been tested from 289 alerts received, with only the imported case testing positive.
Surveillance activities remain active around the clock as authorities seek to prevent further transmission.
Kenya has also intensified screening at its points of entry, with 667,675 travellers screened at 26 entry points since the response began.
Of these, 2,345 travellers were screened in the 24 hours preceding the latest update.
The government said it had notified the World Health Organization within 24 hours of detecting the case, in line with the International Health Regulations of 2005.
The National Taskforce, the National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and the National Incident Management System remain activated, while rapid response teams are on 24-hour standby.
On testing and treatment capacity, the Ministry said five designated laboratories, including two mobile laboratories stationed at the Lwakhakha and Busia border points, were conducting tests. Samples can be referred from any county, with confirmed results expected within six to 12 hours.
The government has also identified up to 241 isolation beds in five hospitals in Nairobi, Eldoret and Mombasa. The facilities include up to 50 intensive care beds at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The Ministry added that 4,917 health workers had received training in Ebola management, while a surge team of 343 trained responders remained on standby. The team includes 102 responders who served during the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak.
Despite the confirmed imported case, the government said Kenya remains open and has not introduced restrictions on travel, trade, transport or public gatherings. No lockdown is in place, and airports, seaports and border points continue to operate normally under enhanced health screening measures.
The Ministry urged Kenyans to remain calm but vigilant, warning against the spread of misinformation that could cause unnecessary panic.
It reiterated that Ebola is not transmitted through the air but through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who is sick or has died from the disease.
Members of the public who develop symptoms or believe they may have been exposed to the virus have been advised to seek medical attention promptly at the nearest health facility.
The Ministry asked Kenyans to rely on official government updates and contact the toll-free health hotline 719 for information and guidance as the country continues its containment efforts.
