Ebola Cases Rise to 7 as Three Health Workers Test Positive

The Ministry of Health has confirmed four new cases of Ebola, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to seven, including the first patient who died from the disease. 

In a statement on Saturday, October 17, the Ministry said all four patients developed fever as their first symptom before being isolated and tested for the disease. 

"All four individuals developed fever as the first symptom and were immediately isolated and specimens collected for testing. They all tested positive for Ebola (Bundibugyo Virus Disease) at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the KEMRI laboratory," the statement read.

The male relative had been in quarantine since October 6, 2026, while the three health workers, comprising two men and one woman aged 29, 35 and 32, respectively, had been in quarantine since October 9.

The health workers had attended to the index case at the hospital between October 3 and 4, 2026. They are currently receiving supportive care at the designated treatment facility.

The Ministry said the second and third patients were stable and responding well to treatment, adding that all affected patients were receiving care from trained health workers.

"The patients are currently receiving supportive care from our trained health workers. The second and third patients are stable and are responding well to supportive treatment. The Ministry will share updates on the progress of all reported cases," the statement added.

The Ministry said the early detection of the four new infections was made possible because the patients had already been placed under quarantine, helping reduce the risk of further transmission to their families and the wider public.

"Since all four new cases have been in quarantine, they were diagnosed early, limiting the risk of further spread of the disease to their families and the general community, improving their chances of survival and protecting the general public from exposure," the statement further read.

The Ministry maintained that the risk to the general public remained low, noting that there was no evidence of community transmission of the disease.

"The Ministry wishes to reassure Kenyans that the risk to the general public remains low as there is no evidence of community transmission of the disease," the statement noted.

Meanwhile, contact tracing efforts have continued, with 128 of the 130 contacts identified in connection with the outbreak having been traced and placed in quarantine. 

This represents 98.5 per cent of all listed contacts, exceeding the global benchmark of 85 per cent considered necessary to help break the chain of transmission.

The Ministry said efforts were ongoing to locate and quarantine the two remaining contacts. It also warned that additional cases could emerge among people already in quarantine before the end of their mandatory 21-day monitoring period.

The health authorities said anyone who develops symptoms during the monitoring period would be detected and treated promptly.

"We are closely monitoring four (4) family members of the deceased index case and all the health workers who took care of him during his hospital stay. All persons in quarantine continue to receive mental and psychosocial support from our dedicated health care teams," the statement read.

The Ministry added that people in quarantine were receiving mental and psychosocial support from healthcare teams as part of the response to the outbreak.

Despite the rising number of confirmed cases, the government said Kenya remained open for business, with no restrictions imposed on travel, trade or public gatherings.

"The country remains open for business, with no restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings. We urge Kenyans to remain calm and stay vigilant as the government is doing everything possible to bring this outbreak under control," the statement concluded.