The Ministry of Health has confirmed that 122 people who came into contact with Kenya’s first Ebola patient have been identified and verified as the country intensifies efforts to contain the virus. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry said 108 of the identified contacts had been placed in quarantine and were under close monitoring. None had developed symptoms at the time of the update.
Health authorities said efforts to trace the remaining contacts were ongoing as the government continued implementing measures to prevent further transmission. The Ministry added that 293 samples had been tested from 289 alerts as part of the ongoing surveillance and response efforts.
Over 667,000 Travellers Screened at Entry Points
The Ministry of Health reported that 667,675 travellers had undergone screening at 26 points of entry across the country. Of these, 2,345 were screened within the preceding 24 hours. Five designated laboratories are conducting Ebola tests, including two mobile laboratories stationed at the Lwakhaha and Busia border points. The Ministry said samples could be referred for testing from any county, with confirmed results available within six to 12 hours.
Kenya Sets Aside 241 Isolation Beds
The government has made 241 isolation beds available across five hospitals in Nairobi, Eldoret and Mombasa to support the management of suspected and confirmed cases. The facilities also include up to 50 intensive care beds at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. To strengthen the response, the Ministry disclosed that 4,917 healthcare workers had received training in Ebola management. Additionally, a team of 343 trained responders remained on standby, including 102 personnel who participated in the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak response.
No Travel Restrictions or Lockdown
The Ministry reassured Kenyans and international travellers that the government had not imposed restrictions on travel, trade, transport or public gatherings. Airports, seaports and border crossings continue to operate normally, although enhanced health screening measures have been introduced. The Ministry said Kenya remained open to visitors, investors and international partners, promising regular and transparent updates on the evolving situation.
Kenya Records First Ebola Case and Death
Kenya reported its first Ebola case and death on October 6 after a patient who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died at Nairobi Hospital while receiving medical care. Following the incident, the government intensified surveillance and contact tracing to reduce the risk of further infections. The Ministry also increased screening measures for travellers arriving from countries considered relevant to the outbreak response.
Flights From 10 Countries Face Enhanced Screening
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced on October 7 that flights from 10 countries would be subject to additional monitoring as part of Kenya’s Ebola response. The countries are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Zambia, Ethiopia, South Sudan and the Central African Republic.
According to Duale, flights from the listed countries would be required to use a designated entry point upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The measures are intended to strengthen screening and surveillance as health authorities continue monitoring contacts and assessing potential alerts across the country.
