Health CS Aden Duale speaking at a past event / HANDOUTKenya has reported no new Ebola cases since confirming its first imported case on October 6, with 108 contacts of the deceased patient under quarantine and daily monitoring.
In an update on Sunday, October 11, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said all 122 contacts linked to the case had been listed and verified, with efforts to trace the remaining individuals still ongoing.
“108 (88.5%) are in quarantine and being monitored daily, and none have developed any symptoms thus far,” Duale said.
The patient, a Kenyan who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo through Uganda, died on October 5 and was given a safe and dignified burial on October 6 in accordance with public health protocols.
The Ministry of Health said 293 samples collected from 289 alerts had been tested, with only the confirmed case returning a positive result.
“Of 293 samples tested from 289 alerts, only the confirmed case has been positive,” Duale said.
Kenya has also screened 667,675 travellers at 26 points of entry since the response began, including 2,345 in the 24 hours preceding the latest update.
The government said surveillance was ongoing around the clock, with contact tracing being conducted in collaboration with international partners where necessary.
Five designated laboratories, including two mobile laboratories at the Lwakhaha and Busia border points, are testing samples.
According to Duale, samples can be referred from any county, with confirmed results available within six to 12 hours.
The country has also made available up to 241 isolation beds in five hospitals in Nairobi, Eldoret and Mombasa.
The facilities include up to 50 intensive care beds at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Duale said 4,917 health workers had been trained in Ebola management, while 343 trained responders were on standby to support the response.
The team includes 102 personnel who participated in the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak response.
The Cabinet Secretary said the government had activated national coordination structures and rapid response teams to contain the disease.
“The National Taskforce, the National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and the National Incident Management System are active, and rapid response teams are on 24-hour standby,” he said.
Kenya has also notified the World Health Organization within 24 hours of confirming the case, in line with the International Health Regulations of 2005.
Despite the confirmed infection, the government said there would be no restrictions on travel, trade, transport or public gatherings.
Duale said that Kenya remains open, adding that airports, seaports and border points were operating normally with enhanced health screening.
The Ministry urged the public to remain calm and vigilant, follow official health guidance and avoid sharing rumours that could cause unnecessary panic.
“Ebola is not spread through the air; it spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with, or has died from, the disease,” Duale said.
Anyone experiencing symptoms or concerned about possible exposure has been advised to seek medical attention promptly at the nearest health facility.
The public can call the Ministry of Health’s toll-free hotline, 719, for information and guidance, or follow the Ministry’s official website and social media pages for updates.
