President William Ruto has directed the government to intensify measures to contain Ebola Virus Disease following the death of a patient confirmed to have contracted the virus outside Kenya.
Ruto ordered the National Security Council Committee (NSCC) to convene and assess the situation before recommending additional measures to protect the country from further transmission.
The government said on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, that contact tracing, surveillance and testing had been stepped up following confirmation of the imported case.
Eight family members of the deceased have been placed under quarantine and are undergoing daily monitoring for symptoms, while 21 healthcare workers who attended to the patient have also been quarantined.
Health authorities have further expanded contact tracing to passengers who travelled on the same flight as the deceased when the patient entered Kenya.
So far, 27 passengers considered to have potentially come into contact with the deceased have been identified and reached by health officials, with public health measures being implemented.
The deceased has since been buried safely in line with established public health protocols.
652,000 travellers screened
The government said Kenya has screened 652,584 travellers and tested 267 samples as part of its Ebola surveillance measures.
The samples have been analysed across five laboratories, including the National Virology Reference Laboratory, KEMRI facilities in Nairobi and Kisumu, and two mobile laboratories stationed at the Busia and Lwakhakha border points.
Of the 267 samples tested, the government said only one has returned a positive result—the deceased patient.
“No additional positive cases have been detected,” State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said in the statement issued on October 6, 2026.
The surveillance and rapid response teams deployed across the country are building on systems established since Kenya began strengthening its preparedness following the Ebola outbreak reported in May 2026.
Nearly 5,000 health workers trained
The government said 4,971 healthcare workers at national and sub-national levels have received training in Ebola prevention, detection and management.
Kenya has also designated several hospitals to manage Ebola cases, including Kenyatta National Hospital, which has eight beds, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital with 50 beds, the National Police Hospital with 49 beds and The Nairobi Hospital with 143 beds.
Additional county-level isolation centres have also been designated, with the government saying capacity will be expanded depending on how the situation develops.
Government urges calm
Despite the confirmed death, the government urged Kenyans to remain calm while taking precautions against possible transmission.
Members of the public have been advised to maintain strict hand hygiene and avoid contact with people displaying symptoms associated with Ebola.
These include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea and unexplained bleeding.
Anyone experiencing such symptoms, particularly after possible exposure to an infected or suspected person, has been advised to avoid close contact with others and seek guidance from a recognised health facility immediately.
The government also called on Kenyans to report people suspected of having been exposed to Ebola or displaying symptoms consistent with the disease.
The Ministry of Health is expected to issue additional guidelines outlining preventive measures for individuals and institutions.
The government said it would continue monitoring the situation and strengthen surveillance, contact tracing, testing and treatment capacity as required.
“Kenya is prepared to deal with this public health emergency,” Mohamed said.
Read: Kenya Confirms First Ebola Case in Nairobi
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