Ministry of Health announces second Ebola death in Kenya

Kenya has recorded its second death from the Ebola outbreak after a 65-year-old woman succumbed to the disease.

The Ministry of Health announced on Friday evening that the woman, who was the third confirmed case of Bundibugyo virus disease in the country, died while receiving treatment at an infectious disease unit.

According to the ministry, the patient was a close family member and direct contact of Kenya’s first Ebola case, who also died.

She had been placed under quarantine but developed symptoms on October 13, 2026, and was admitted to the infectious disease unit the same day, where she received supportive care.

“The Ministry of Health is deeply saddened to announce the passing on of a 65-year-old female patient,” Health Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth said in a statement to newsrooms.

The ministry said the woman’s family had been formally informed of her death and that arrangements were underway for a safe and dignified burial in consultation with the family.

Trained teams will conduct the burial in line with public health protocols aimed at protecting relatives and the wider community from possible infection.

The latest death brings the number of fatalities to two among the nine confirmed Ebola cases, with the remaining seven patients continuing to receive treatment at two isolation facilities.

The Ministry of Health maintained that all confirmed cases remain within a single cluster of known contacts, adding that there was no evidence of community transmission.

The death comes as health authorities continue to monitor contacts and manage patients following the confirmation of the outbreak.

The ministry urged Kenyans to maintain precautionary measures, including avoiding contact with the blood and body fluids of sick people and refraining from touching or handling the bodies of people who die from suspected illnesses.

Members of the public were also advised to wash their hands regularly with soap and water and seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms associated with Ebola.

These include fever, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and unexplained bleeding.