President William Ruto has ordered the National Security Council Committee (NSCC) to assess Kenya’s Ebola situation and recommend additional measures following the death of a patient confirmed to have an imported case of Ebola Virus Disease.
Following the NSCC meeting, the government has stepped up 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. Twenty-one healthcare workers who attended to the patient have also been quarantined and are being closely monitored.
Authorities have further traced 27 passengers who travelled on the same flight as the deceased upon arrival in Kenya. The passengers have been contacted and are undergoing appropriate public health measures.
The deceased has since been safely buried in line with established public health protocols.
The government says Kenya has maintained surveillance and rapid-response systems since the Ebola outbreak began in May 2026, with teams deployed to detect, isolate and manage suspected cases.
As of October 6, 2026, authorities had screened 652,584 travellers and tested 267 samples at five laboratories, including the National Virology Reference Laboratory, KEMRI laboratories in Nairobi and Kisumu, and mobile laboratories at the Busia and Lwakhakha border points.
Of the 267 samples tested, only one has returned positive for Ebola—the deceased patient—with no additional positive cases detected so far.
The government also says 4,971 healthcare workers have been trained in Ebola prevention, detection and management.
Several facilities have been designated to manage Ebola cases, including Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, National Police Hospital and The Nairobi Hospital, alongside county isolation centres. The government says this capacity will be expanded if necessary.
President Ruto’s administration has urged Kenyans to remain calm and vigilant, observe strict hand hygiene and avoid contact with people displaying symptoms associated with Ebola, including fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea and unexplained bleeding.
Anyone experiencing such symptoms, particularly after possible exposure to a suspected or confirmed case, has been advised to avoid close contact with others and immediately seek medical guidance from a recognised health facility.
The Ministry of Health is expected to issue further guidelines on preventive measures as the government continues to monitor the situation.
