First ebola burial in Kenya. /SCREENGRABKenya confirmed its first-ever Ebola case on Tuesday, October 6, hours after the patient died from the deadly disease, days after arriving in the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the patient tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo at Nairobi Hospital, where he was taken immediately after arriving in Kenya.
The patient, who had fallen ill about a month earlier, travelled by road to Kampala before boarding a flight to Kenya on October 3.
The confirmation came as a shock, but the government was quick to assure Kenyans that containment measures were already in place to deal with such contingencies.
"I wish to reassure the public not to panic as all systems are in place to mitigate the spread of the disease," Duale said.
As the country grapples with the news, the government's swift response has demonstrated some of the advantages Kenya has in containing the local spread of the virus.
One of the key advantages is the early detection of the confirmed case and the prompt contact tracing that was initiated to prevent people who may have been exposed from coming into contact with others.
Early detection of Ebola is critical because identifying cases promptly allows health workers to isolate infected patients before they transmit the virus to family members, communities or healthcare workers.
Containing an outbreak in its early stages also reduces the risk of a rapid increase in cases that can overwhelm healthcare systems.
In a statement on Tuesday, Duale said 27 contacts of the deceased, including family members and healthcare workers who attended to the patient, had been traced and isolated.
He added that efforts were ongoing to trace 23 passengers and four crew members on the flight the patient used from Uganda to Kenya.
Identifying an index case early makes it easier for health authorities to trace, monitor and quarantine people who may have come into contact with the patient during the period when transmission could have occurred.
"Arrangements for quarantine of those at risk to protect the public is ongoing," Duale said.
Another advantage is Kenya's relatively developed healthcare infrastructure and public health network.
Strong laboratory capacity and disease surveillance systems can help diagnose cases early, trace contacts and isolate infected people before the virus spreads more widely.
Specialised facilities, trained personnel, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and dedicated isolation units also reduce the risk of healthcare workers contracting or transmitting the virus.
The government said it had maintained a high level of alert for Ebola since the current Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak was reported in the DRC in May.
Kenya has the National Virology Reference Laboratory (NVRL), KEMRI Nairobi, KEMRI Kisumu and two mobile laboratories deployed at the Busia border in Busia county and Lwakhakha border in Bungoma county, which are dedicated to Ebola testing.
"As of October 6, 2026, we have screened 652,584 travellers. We have tested 267 samples across five laboratories," Duale said.
He also said 4,971 health workers had been trained at both national and sub-national levels on Ebola prevention and management.
Another factor that could work in Kenya's favour is public awareness. While government interventions are crucial, community attitudes and behaviour can significantly influence the course of an outbreak.
In the DRC, public scepticism, rumours and distrust contributed to the spread of Ebola beyond Ituri province, where the outbreak was first detected.
Some community members doubted the existence of Ebola or believed the outbreak was a political invention, financial scam or conspiracy.
There were also cases of family members storming isolation and quarantine facilities where infected relatives were being treated in an attempt to "rescue" them, further increasing the risk of transmission.
Kenyans, however, have previously demonstrated a willingness to follow public health measures during disease outbreaks, as was evident during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Ministry of Health has urged the public to continue washing hands frequently or using alcohol-based hand sanitisers and to avoid close contact with sick people arriving from countries reporting active Ebola transmission.
Kenyans have also been advised to avoid handshakes, hugging and crowded places to reduce the risk of infection.
"You are reminded to seek care from a recognised health facility if unwell. Further, you should report any persons known to be unwell to the nearest facility," Duale said.
The government has also unveiled hotline numbers through which Kenyans can ask questions and seek guidance on Ebola from healthcare workers.
The public can call or send a text message to 719 or 0700719719.
Authorities have also put in place strict transportation and burial protocols for people who die from Ebola.
Duale said the ambulance used to transport the deceased from hospital to Lang'ata Cemetery was fumigated and would not be used to transport ordinary patients.
"It will be kept somewhere, and in the event there will be another patient, another person who will die of Ebola, that is the ambulance that we use," he said.
Duale said healthcare workers had been advised to remain vigilant and maintain the highest infection prevention and control standards regardless of the condition being treated.
On Tuesday, President William Ruto also directed the National Security Council Committee to convene, assess the situation and recommend measures necessary to safeguard the country.
He urged the public and institutions to adhere to measures issued by the Ministry of Health to minimise the risk of transmission.
"The government will continue to monitor the situation closely, take all necessary measures to protect the public and keep the country informed of any further developments," the President said in a statement.
