President William Ruto yesterday ordered the National Security Council Committee (NSCC) to assess the situation and recommend additional measures following the death of a patient confirmed to have an imported case of Ebola virus disease.
The directive comes as the government intensifies surveillance, contact tracing and other public health measures to prevent further transmission of the disease.
According to a statement issued by State House on Tuesday evening, eight family members of the deceased have been placed under quarantine and are undergoing daily monitoring for symptoms.
Twenty-one healthcare workers who attended to the patient have also been quarantined and are being closely monitored.
Authorities have extended contact tracing to passengers who travelled on the same flight as the deceased when the patient arrived in Kenya.
So far, 27 passengers who may have come into contact with the deceased have been identified and contacted, with appropriate public health measures being undertaken.
The deceased has since been safely buried in accordance with established public health protocols.
The government said surveillance and rapid response teams had been deployed on the ground, building on preparedness and surveillance systems maintained since the Ebola outbreak began in May 2026.
As of October 6, Kenya had screened 652,584 travellers and tested 267 samples in five laboratories, including the National Virology Reference Laboratory, KEMRI Nairobi, KEMRI Kisumu and two mobile laboratories deployed at the Busia and Lwakhakha border points.
Of the samples tested, only one of the samples from the deceased patient returned a positive result, with no additional positive cases detected so far.
The government said 4,971 healthcare workers had been trained at national and sub-national levels in Ebola prevention, detection and management.
Designated Ebola treatment facilities include Kenyatta National Hospital with eight beds, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital with 50 beds, National Police Hospital with 49 beds and The Nairobi Hospital with 143 beds, in addition to county isolation centres.
The Government said the capacity would be expanded depending on how the situation evolves.
President Ruto’s directive follows confirmation that the deceased patient was an imported Ebola case.
The Government has urged Kenyans to remain calm and vigilant, observe strict hand hygiene and avoid contact with people exhibiting symptoms associated with Ebola, including fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea and unexplained bleeding.
People experiencing such symptoms, particularly after possible exposure to a suspected or confirmed case, have been advised to avoid close contact with others and immediately seek care at a recognized health facility.
The Ministry of Health is expected to issue further guidelines on safeguards and preventive measures for individuals and institutions as the Government continues to monitor the situation.
by Wangari Ndirangu
