Kenya’s Ministry of Health on Saturday confirmed four new cases of Ebola (Bundibugyo Virus Disease), bringing the total number of confirmed cases to seven, including the deceased first case.
In a press release, the Director General of Health Dr Patrick Amoth stated that the new cases were detected in two quarantine sites. They include a close male relative of the deceased first patient and three health workers who attended to him in hospital.
The male relative had been in quarantine since October 6, 2026. The three health workers, two men and a woman aged 29, 35 and 32, managed the index case between October 3 and 4, 2026, at the hospital. They have been in quarantine since October 9, 2026.
All four developed fever as their first symptom and were immediately isolated and specimens collected for testing. They tested positive at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the KEMRI laboratory.
“The patients are currently receiving supportive care from our trained health workers,” Dr Amoth stated.
The Director General added that the health workers are receiving care at the designated treatment facility.
Since all four were already in quarantine, they were diagnosed early, limiting the risk of further spread to their families and the general community, improving their chances of survival and protecting the general public from exposure.
He also gave an update on the second and third patients, who he said are stable and responding well to supportive treatment. The third case, a 65-year-old woman who is a relative of the first patient, was confirmed on Friday. The second case was confirmed on Wednesday this week.
The Aden Duale-led Ministry reassured the public that the risk remains low as there is no evidence of community transmission of the disease.
Out of the 130 contacts listed so far, 128, representing 98.5 per cent, have been traced and are in quarantine. The percentage is well above the global benchmark of 85 per cent required to break the chain of transmission.
“Intensive efforts are ongoing to trace and quarantine the two (2) remaining contacts,” Dr Amoth stated.
The Ministry cautioned that new cases among quarantined contacts remain possible until their 21-day monitoring period ends, but said any who develop symptoms will be detected and treated just as quickly.
It said it is closely monitoring four family members of the deceased index case and all the health workers who took care of him during his hospital stay. All persons in quarantine continue to receive mental and psychosocial support from health care teams.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health reiterated that the country remains open for business, with no restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings.
It urged Kenyans to remain calm and stay vigilant, explaining that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a sick or deceased person, not through the air.
“If you or anyone you know has fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pains, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding, report it at once at the nearest health facility,” Dr Amoth urged.
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