Editor's Review

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has revealed Kenya will be declared Ebola-free if no new cases from the public are reported in the next 21 days. 

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has revealed Kenya will be declared Ebola-free if no new cases from the public are reported in the next 21 days. 

Speaking during an interview on Sunday night, October 25, CS Duale said the World Health Organization (WHO) requirement for Ebola-free status is 42 days. 

The Health CS noted that no new cases have been reported in the community since Kenya reported the first imported case on October 3. 

“The people who tested positive are not from the wider community; it's not a new case. These are people who are in quarantine stations and had contact with the patient. The seven cases we have are either the family members or healthcare workers. 

“We have contained it, and I am sure the next time Kenya will be free of Ebola is when we reach 42 days. It’s not a Kenyan timeline; it’s a global timeline designed by WHO,” said Duale. 

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File image of medical personnel handling Ebola cases. 

He also mentioned that the government has traced all the individuals who came in contact with patient zero. 

"The global standard for contact tracing is 85%; we have done 100%. We have traced everybody and put them under quarantine. About 21 of them will be tested, and if they test negative, they will be free to go home," Duale stated. 

This comes days after CS Duale confirmed the death of a patient who had been diagnosed with Ebola. 

Duale said that the deceased, who passed away on Friday, October 23, was Kenya's third confirmed case and was a close relative of the first confirmed case.

He said that the 65-year-old woman was receiving treatment from medics but succumbed to the deadly virus 10 days after she first developed the symptoms.

"She was admitted to the infectious disease unit on the same day and had been receiving supportive care from our dedicated medical teams, who did everything possible to save her life. Sadly, she succumbed to the disease early this evening," the statement read.

CS Duale said that the Ministry informed her family of her demise and expressed heartfelt condolences to her kin and loved ones.