Kenya has confirmed a ninth case of Ebola, with the Ministry of Health reporting that all identified infections remain within one known cluster and patients are responding well to treatment.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, October 20, the Ministry said the latest patient is a 24-year-old man who is a close family member of the first case, who died.
The man tested positive on October 19 after developing symptoms while already in quarantine, having previously been identified as a contact of an infected person.
“The new case is a known contact of the index case and was already in quarantine when he fell ill. All nine cases belong to one cluster, and as of today there is no evidence of transmission outside this group,” said Health Director General Patrick Amoth.
The Ministry further added that all nine confirmed cases are linked to the same cluster, with no evidence so far of transmission beyond the group.
The latest announcement comes as authorities intensify contact tracing, strengthen preparedness in high-risk counties and continue monitoring people who may have been exposed to the virus.
Eight Patients Responding to Treatment
The Ministry said the eight surviving patients are receiving supportive care and have shown significant improvement, with their conditions currently stable under medical observation.
The government added that it had received 500 doses of medicines to support the treatment of confirmed cases, expressing gratitude to partners supporting the country's response.
The Ministry said the latest patient was isolated at the first sign of illness and placed on treatment immediately after testing positive.
Health teams are continuing to monitor patients closely while maintaining infection prevention and control measures in treatment and quarantine facilities.
According to the Ministry, no infections have been reported among people working in quarantine facilities. “There has been no spread of infection within quarantine facilities, and every health worker caring for patients is fully protected,” the statement added.
134 Contacts Traced and Quarantined
Kenya has traced and quarantined 134 out of 135 identified contacts, representing 99.3 per cent, according to the Ministry. The achievement is above the global benchmark of 85 per cent cited in the press release.
Contact tracing lists continue to expand as additional cases are confirmed and their contacts identified, with national and county teams working alongside families and communities.
The Ministry urged Kenyans to cooperate with response teams to help prevent further transmission.
Authorities have also distributed protective equipment, diagnostic kits, thermometers and sample collection and transport kits to 12 very high-risk counties and 16 high-risk counties.
In addition, a dedicated laboratory has been established at the Kenyatta National Hospital Infectious Disease Unit to handle routine tests for patients under Ebola care.
The arrangement is intended to prevent Ebola-positive samples from overwhelming or contaminating the hospital's main laboratory, allowing other testing services to continue without disruption.
Quarantine Contacts Set to Return Home
The Ministry announced that people who entered quarantine on October 6 and remain well are expected to complete their 21-day monitoring period and begin returning home from the weekend of October 25.
Officials appealed to communities to welcome those completing quarantine, stressing that individuals who have completed the monitoring period without symptoms pose no risk of infection to others.
"Contacts who entered quarantine on 6th of October and remain well will complete their 21-day monitoring period and begin returning home from this coming weekend, 25th October, having successfully completed quarantine. We thank them and their families for their patience, their patriotism and their contribution to protecting not only their families and communities, but also the nation and the wider world," the statement continued.
The government said the return would mark an important milestone in the country's response, while urging the public to avoid stigmatising people who have completed quarantine.
Government Issues Warning to Kenyans
Despite the outbreak, the Ministry said Kenya remains open, with no restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings.
However, members of the public have been urged to seek medical attention immediately if they develop symptoms associated with Ebola. These include fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pains, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and unexplained bleeding.
Anyone experiencing these symptoms, or who knows someone who may have them, has been advised to report to the nearest health facility or call the toll-free number 719.
The Ministry said it continues to monitor infection prevention measures in quarantine and treatment centres and address any gaps identified. “Together, we are on course to bring this outbreak to a complete end,” Amoth said in the closing statement.
The Ministry maintained that contact tracing, early isolation, treatment and public cooperation remain central to containing the outbreak.
