Kenya has begun the mandatory 42-day countdown towards being declared Ebola-free on December 23, 2026, following the discharge of the last patient and the release of all remaining contacts from quarantine.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced on Wednesday that the final Ebola patient had been discharged from hospital after recovering from the virus, while the last 11 contacts under quarantine had also been released.
“For the first time, Kenya has no contact in quarantine and no Ebola patient,” Duale said, describing the development as a major milestone in the country’s response to the outbreak.
The countdown, which began on November 11, will determine whether Kenya can be declared Ebola-free, provided no new infections are reported during the 42-day monitoring period.
According to the CS, the country had gone 23 days without recording a new infection, while 37 days had passed since the first case was confirmed.
Duale acknowledged that two patients had died from the disease and sent condolences to their families.
He credited the progress to cooperation between the national and county governments, healthcare workers, development partners and other stakeholders, saying the response had been achieved with limited resources.
The CS recalled that the first group of contacts completed monitoring and was released on October 26, while five patients were discharged on November 3 after recovering from the disease.
He also pledged to publish details of the support received from development partners and account for the resources used during the outbreak response.
“I told you there will be no Ebola billionaires,” Duale said, assuring Kenyans that the government had managed the emergency without excessive expenditure.
He added that after the countdown, he would present a comprehensive report to Parliament detailing the response and contributions made by partners.
Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth said the outbreak had provided important lessons for Kenya’s emergency preparedness, particularly the need for trained and motivated healthcare workers during public health emergencies.
Amoth also highlighted coordination between government agencies and other stakeholders as a key factor in containing the outbreak.
Meanwhile, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa Director of Programme Management Abdourahmane Diallo congratulated the discharged patient and their family, describing the milestone as a reflection of the strength of Kenya’s health system.
Kenya will only be declared Ebola-free if no new cases are detected during the 42-day period, in line with the required disease surveillance and monitoring process.
