The Ministry of Health has assured Kenyans that the risk of Ebola infection to the general public remains low despite four new cases being confirmed, raising the country’s total to seven.
In a statement issued on Saturday, October 17, the ministry said all four newly confirmed patients had been in quarantine before testing positive for the Bundibugyo virus disease, allowing health officials to detect the infections early and limit further transmission.
The new cases involve a close male relative of the initial patient who died and three health workers who attended to him while he was receiving treatment in hospital.
The four patients tested positive at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratory.
“The patients are currently receiving supportive care from our trained health workers,” the ministry said, adding that the second and third patients were stable and responding well to treatment.
The newly confirmed male patient had been in quarantine since October 6, while the three health workers, two men and one woman aged 29, 35 and 32, had been under quarantine since October 9.
The health workers had attended to the initial patient at the hospital between October 3 and 4 before being placed under monitoring.
The ministry said the early detection of the infections had reduced the likelihood of the virus spreading to the patients’ families and the wider community.
“Since all four new cases have been in quarantine, they were diagnosed early, limiting the risk of further spread of the disease,” the ministry said.
It maintained that there was no evidence of community transmission, although it cautioned that more infections could emerge among people already under observation.
“New cases among quarantined contacts are possible until their 21-day monitoring period ends,” the ministry said, noting that anyone who develops symptoms would be identified and treated promptly.
Health officials have so far identified 130 contacts linked to the outbreak, of whom 128, representing 98.5 per cent, had been traced and placed in quarantine by Saturday. Efforts were continuing to locate the remaining two.
The ministry said the tracing rate was above the global benchmark of 85 per cent considered necessary to help interrupt the chain of transmission.
Four family members who cared for the deceased patient during his hospital stay are also being closely monitored and receiving mental health and psychosocial support.
The latest infections bring the confirmed cases to seven, including the index patient who died, with health authorities continuing surveillance and contact tracing to contain the outbreak.
The ministry urged continued vigilance as the 21-day monitoring period for contacts progresses, maintaining that early identification and isolation remain central to preventing further spread.
