Editor's Review
The Ministry of Health has announced that the first contacts of Kenya’s Ebola outbreak will be released from quarantine from Sunday.
The Ministry of Health has announced that the first contacts of Kenya’s Ebola outbreak will be released from quarantine from Sunday, October 25.
In a statement on Thursday, October 22, the ministry said the individuals who remain in good health will be reunited with their families, thanking them for their cooperation in helping contain the spread of the virus.
"Going home this weekend. From Sunday, 25th October, the first contacts to complete 21 days of monitoring and who will be in good health, will be released from quarantine and reunited with their families.
"Their sacrifice has helped keep Kenya safe, and the nation is grateful to them and to those who stood by them," the statement read.
The ministry urged communities, neighbours and employers to welcome those released from quarantine, assuring the public that individuals who have completed the monitoring period without falling ill cannot transmit the infection.
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"As they return, we ask neigbours, workplaces and communities to receive them warmly. They have passed the full monitoring period without falling ill and cannot pass the infection to anybody," the statement added.
The announcement comes as Kenya's Ebola response enters its 17th day since the first imported case was confirmed on October 6, 2026.
The ministry reported continued progress in surveillance and testing, with all 14 samples collected from various alerts across the country over the preceding 24 hours testing negative for BVD.
The ministry maintained that the total number of confirmed cases remained nine, including the index case, who died on October 5, 2026. It added that all confirmed cases belonged to a single cluster, with no evidence of community transmission.
"The total number of cases confirmed remains nine (9), including the index case, who died on 5th October, 2026. All the cases belong to a single cluster, with no evidence of community spread," the statement further read.
Eight patients are currently receiving treatment in designated isolation facilities.
According to the ministry, the patients comprise four family members and four health workers who cared for the first case. All eight were reported to be stable and responding well to treatment.
"Our patients are stable and progressing well. The eight patients undergoing treatment in our designated isolation facilities, four family members and four health workers who cared for the first case, are stable and responding well to treatment from our infectious disease specialists.
"We look forward to each of them completing treatment, recovering fully, and being discharged home to their families," the statement noted.
The ministry also confirmed that all 135 contacts associated with the first case had been traced, representing 100 per cent of the identified contacts.
The tracing exercise covered individuals in Kenya and abroad, with relevant health authorities in the countries concerned formally notified in accordance with the International Health Regulations (2005).
"Every contact has been traced, at home and abroad. All the 135 contacts associated with the first case have been traced (100%), both within Kenya and internationally, and the relevant health authorities of the countries concerned have been formally informed in line with the International Health Regulations (2005).
"We thank our national and county contact- tracing teams, families, communities and our development partners for this significant achievement," the statement read.
Elsewhere, Ghana has stepped up surveillance and airport screening following reports of Ebola cases in Kenya, DRC and Nigeria.
In a statement on Wednesday, Ghana’s Ministry of Health said the measures are aimed at enhancing the country’s preparedness to prevent the importation of the virus and effective management of suspected cases.
"Although Ghana has not reported any Ebola case, the Ministry of Health, through the Ghana Health Service and other agencies and partners, is strengthening national preparedness to prevent importation and ensure early detection, prompt isolation, and effective management of any suspected case," read the statement in part
The ministry noted that the situation in Kenya poses a significant risk to Ghana because of direct flights between the two countries and higher passenger volumes compared with the DRC.
According to the ministry, the risk has been compounded by a confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria because of the frequent travel between the two nations.
“The situation in Kenya poses a significant risk to Ghana due to direct flights between the two countries and higher passenger volumes than in the DRC,” the ministry said.
The ministry said the cases in Kenya and Nigeria have necessitated the Ghanaian authorities to strengthen existing surveillance measures.
