Kenya to release first Ebola contacts from quarantine on Sunday, Patrick Amoth says

Kenya to release first Ebola contacts from quarantine on Sunday, Patrick Amoth says

The first people placed under quarantine would be discharged after completing the mandatory 21-day monitoring period, with the exercise to be led by the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI).

Kenya is expected to release the first group of people placed under quarantine following the reported Ebola cases on Sunday, October 25, 2026, Health Director General Dr Patrick Amoth has announced.

Speaking during an inter-governmental briefing to strengthen coordination on the Bundibugyo Virus Disease response, Dr Amoth said the cases remain clustered around an imported case, with no evidence of community transmission, but urged Kenyans to remain calm and vigilant.

Dr Amoth said the first people placed under quarantine would be discharged after completing the mandatory 21-day monitoring period, with the exercise to be led by the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI).

He thanked the team handling the response, led by the acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Public Health Institute, for its work in managing the situation.

“Our first cases who have been in quarantine will begin leaving quarantine facilities on Sunday,” Dr Amoth said.

He also urged healthcare workers to familiarise themselves with the rules issued by the government to guide the response to the disease.

Latest Stories

• UAE's Lana Nusseibeh enters race to succeed António Guterres as UN chief
• Ghana steps up Ebola surveillance after cases are reported in Kenya, DRC and Nigeria
• Uganda tightens Ebola screening at Entebbe Airport after Nigerian case
• Nairobi residents warned against riding bicycles on pedestrian paths, dumping waste on new walkways

“It's important, especially for healthcare workers, that we familiarise ourselves with the rules that were gazetted. One establishing the disease as a formidable epidemic, and thereafter the rules to be able to ensure that we bring it under control,” he said.

Kenya confirmed its first case of the Bundibugyo strain on October 6, involving a 40-year-old Kenyan who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Uganda and arrived in Nairobi on October 3. The patient later died after receiving treatment.

The Ministry of Health said the patient was given a safe and dignified burial on October 6 in line with established Ebola prevention measures. Since the initial case, Kenya has confirmed nine cases.

In an update on Wednesday, Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale said the eight other patients were responding well to treatment and remained in stable condition.

By October 20, health authorities had traced and placed under quarantine 134 of the 135 contacts linked to the cases. The contacts are being monitored for 21 days to identify any signs of infection and prevent further transmission.

During this period, health workers conduct daily follow-ups and check for symptoms, including fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain and sore throat. Other warning signs include vomiting, diarrhoea and unexplained bleeding.

Anyone who develops symptoms must be assessed promptly and tested where necessary, allowing health authorities to isolate suspected cases, provide care and trace other people who may have been exposed.

Dr Amoth said Kenya was not yet out of danger but maintained that there was no evidence of the virus spreading within the community.

“We are not out of the woods, but we want to assure you to remain calm, remain vigilant, don’t panic. There is no need for panic. So far, the cases are clustered around the index case. No evidence of community transmission,” he said.

He added that if the situation remained unchanged, Kenya would begin the official 42-day countdown towards declaring the outbreak over once the required conditions were met.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) requires 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed or probable case before an Ebola outbreak can be declared over. The period covers twice the virus’s maximum 21-day incubation period.

The countdown begins the day after the last confirmed patient tests negative twice in a row using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests taken at least 48 hours apart. If the patient dies, it begins the day after a safe and dignified burial.

However, the end of an outbreak does not mean surveillance stops. WHO recommends continued active and passive monitoring, including post-mortem testing for suspected cases, for at least six months after an outbreak is declared over. It also recommends medical care and support for survivors for at least 18 months.

CS Duale said Kenya’s response remained strong, adding that a dedicated laboratory had been established at the Kenyatta National Hospital Infectious Disease Unit to conduct routine tests for patients receiving Ebola care.

The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Care focuses on supportive measures such as rehydration, managing symptoms and treating secondary infections, while clinical trials of vaccine candidates continue.

The DRC confirmed its current Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak on May 15 and has since recorded more than 9,500 confirmed cases and over 4,600 deaths, according to the figures provided.