Kenya has confirmed a second case of Ebola (Bundibugyo Virus Disease), with health authorities saying contact tracing and quarantine measures are helping to detect infections early.
The Ministry of Health said the patient, a 39-year-old man and close family member of the first case, developed fever, fatigue and joint pains on October 13, while in quarantine under daily monitoring.
He was immediately isolated and tested, with samples returning positive results at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-CDC laboratory.
The patient has since been transferred to a designated treatment centre, where he is receiving supportive care.
Kenya has now recorded two confirmed cases of the disease and one death.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth said the early detection of the second case demonstrated the importance of quarantine and daily monitoring in containing the outbreak.
He noted that both cases were linked and there was no evidence of transmission in the wider community.
“128 contacts of the first patient had been identified, with 113 traced as of October 13. Of those traced, 108 were in quarantine in Kenya, undergoing daily clinical assessments and temperature checks for 21 days from their last possible exposure,” Dr Amoth said in the statement.
The remaining five contacts were outside the country, and the health authorities in the respective countries had been notified in line with the International Health Regulations (2005).
Tracing of the other 15 contacts was ongoing, while health teams were identifying and assessing people who had interacted with the second patient since he developed symptoms, including quarantining staff and health workers.
The Ministry said anyone among the contacts who developed symptoms would be isolated and tested immediately.
It added that infection prevention and control measures had been reinforced at quarantine and treatment facilities, with health workers provided with protective equipment.
Dr. Amoth urged all health workers to observe strict infection prevention and control measures regardless of the condition they were treating.
The response is being coordinated through a single national command under the Public Health (Declaration of Formidable Epidemic Disease) Order, 2026 and the Public Health (Ebola Disease) Rules, 2026.
The World Health Organization has been notified of the outbreak in accordance with international health regulations.
The Ministry said Kenya remained open, with no restrictions imposed on travel, trade or public gatherings.
It urged the public to remain vigilant and seek medical attention promptly if they experienced symptoms including fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pains, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding.
Ebola is not transmitted through the air but through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person, who is sick or has died from the disease.
The Ministry also appealed to the public to respect the privacy of the affected family, rely on official updates, and call the toll-free number 719 for information.
By Wangari Ndirangu
