Kenya will begin releasing the first group of Ebola contacts from quarantine on Sunday, October 25, after they complete their mandatory 21-day monitoring period without developing symptoms, the Ministry of Health has announced.
The announcement comes as the country recorded no new cases in the 24 hours to Thursday, October 22, with all 14 samples collected from alerts reported across the country testing negative for Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD).
In a statement marking Day 17 of the outbreak response, Director General for Health Patrick Amoth said the total number of confirmed cases remained nine, including the index case, who died on October 5.
The Ministry said all nine cases belonged to a single cluster, with no evidence of community spread.
Eight patients are currently receiving treatment at designated isolation facilities. They include four family members and four health workers who cared for the first case.
According to the Ministry, all eight patients are stable and responding well to treatment provided by infectious disease specialists.
“We look forward to each of them completing treatment, recovering fully, and being discharged home to their families,” the statement said.
The Ministry also confirmed that all 135 contacts linked to the first case had been traced, both within Kenya and internationally.
It said the relevant health authorities in the countries concerned had been formally notified in line with the International Health Regulations (2005).
The first group of contacts to complete their monitoring period and remain in good health will be released from quarantine from Sunday and reunited with their families.
The Ministry urged communities, workplaces and neighbours to receive those released warmly, saying they had completed the full monitoring period without falling ill and could not transmit the infection to others.
“Their sacrifice has helped keep Kenya safe, and the nation is grateful to them and to those who stood by them,” the statement said.
On the circumstances surrounding the infections, the Ministry said epidemiologists had mapped the exposure dates, quarantine periods and symptom onset for every case.
According to the findings, each patient had been in close contact with the first case between October 3 and October 5 before entering quarantine. They subsequently developed symptoms within Ebola’s known incubation period of two to 21 days.
The Ministry said the pattern was consistent with infection from the first case and that no infections had been traced to transmission within quarantine facilities, where infection prevention and control measures had been strengthened.
Meanwhile, enhanced surveillance continues in health facilities and communities across all counties.
A total of 709,093 travellers had been screened at points of entry since the outbreak began, including 3,107 in the latest 24-hour period. The Ministry said 461 samples had been tested since the outbreak began in May 2026.
The government maintained that travel, trade and public gatherings remained unrestricted.
It urged anyone experiencing fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pains, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding to seek medical attention immediately.
People can call the free hotline 719 or use the Jali WhatsApp chatbot on 0700 719 719.
The Ministry also called for compassion towards patients, contacts and health workers, warning against stigma as the country continues its response.
