Ruto orders enhanced Ebola response as Kenya confirms one case

Following the NSCC meeting, the government said it had intensified surveillance, contact tracing, testing and other public health measures to prevent further transmission.

Eight family members of the deceased have been placed under quarantine and are undergoing daily monitoring for symptoms, while 21 healthcare workers who attended to the patient have also been quarantined.

Authorities have further extended contact tracing to passengers who travelled on the same flight as the deceased when the patient entered Kenya.

So far, 27 passengers who may have come into contact with the deceased have been identified and contacted, with public health measures being implemented.

The deceased has since been safely buried in accordance with established public health protocols.

The government said surveillance and rapid response teams have been deployed across the country, building on preparedness measures maintained since the Ebola outbreak began in May 2026.

As of October 6, 2026, Kenya had screened 652,584 travellers and tested 267 samples in five laboratories.

The samples were tested at the National Virology Reference Laboratory (NVRL), KEMRI Nairobi, KEMRI Kisumu and two mobile laboratories deployed at the Busia and Lwakhakha border points.

Of the 267 samples tested, only one has returned positive—the deceased patient.

“No additional positive cases have been detected,” the government said.

The country has also trained 4,971 healthcare workers at national and subnational levels on Ebola prevention, detection and management.

The government said designated Ebola treatment capacity currently includes eight beds at Kenyatta National Hospital, 50 at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, 49 at National Police Hospital and 143 at The Nairobi Hospital, in addition to several county isolation centres.

The capacity will be expanded through the designation of additional facilities if the situation evolves.

The government urged Kenyans to remain calm and vigilant while observing strict hand hygiene and avoiding contact with people exhibiting symptoms associated with Ebola.

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

People experiencing such symptoms, particularly those who may have been exposed to a suspected or confirmed case, have been advised to avoid close contact with others and immediately seek care at a recognised health facility.

The public has also been urged to report suspected Ebola exposures and individuals displaying symptoms consistent with the disease to health authorities.

The Ministry of Health is expected to issue additional guidelines on safeguards and preventive measures for individuals and institutions as the government continues to monitor the situation.