President William Ruto has directed the National Security Council Committee (NSCC) to assess the situation following the death of a patient confirmed to have an imported case of Ebola Virus Disease in Kenya.
Following the NSCC meeting, the Government has stepped up surveillance, contact tracing and other public health measures to prevent further transmission.
Eight family members of the deceased have been placed under quarantine and are undergoing daily monitoring for symptoms, while 21 healthcare workers who attended to the patient have also been quarantined and are being closely monitored.
Authorities have also extended contact tracing to passengers who travelled on the same flight as the deceased when the patient entered Kenya.
So far, 27 passengers who may have come into contact with the deceased have been identified and contacted, with public health measures being implemented.
The deceased has since been safely buried in accordance with established public health protocols.
The Government said surveillance and rapid response teams are on the ground, building on preparedness measures and surveillance systems maintained since the Ebola outbreak began in May 2026.
As of October 6, 2026, Kenya had screened 652,584 travellers and tested 267 samples at five laboratories.
The laboratories include the National Virology Reference Laboratory (NVRL), KEMRI Nairobi, KEMRI Kisumu, and mobile laboratories deployed at the Busia and Lwakhakha border points.
Of the 267 samples tested, only one — belonging to the deceased patient — has returned positive. No additional positive cases have been detected.
The Government said 4,971 healthcare workers have been trained at national and sub-national levels on Ebola prevention, detection and management.
Kenya has also designated several facilities for Ebola case management. These 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. County-level isolation centres are also available, with the Government saying capacity will be expanded as necessary.
The Government has urged Kenyans to remain calm and vigilant while observing strict hand hygiene and avoiding contact with people displaying symptoms associated with Ebola.
The symptoms include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea and unexplained bleeding.
Anyone experiencing such symptoms, particularly following possible exposure to a suspected or confirmed case, has been advised to avoid close contact with others and immediately seek guidance and care from a recognised health facility.
Members of the public have also been urged to promptly report suspected Ebola exposure or symptoms to health authorities.
The Ministry of Health is expected to issue additional guidelines on safeguards and preventive measures for individuals and institutions.
State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said the Government would continue monitoring the situation and strengthen surveillance, contact tracing, testing and treatment capacity as necessary.
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