Kenya Reports Second Ebola Infection, One Death as Health Officials Trace 128 Contacts

GOOBJOOG NEWS | NAIROBI: Kenya has confirmed a second case of Ebola, bringing the country’s reported infections to two, including one death, as health officials intensify contact tracing and quarantine measures to contain the disease.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health said the latest patient, a 39-year-old man related to the first confirmed case, tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola while already under quarantine.

The man developed fever, fatigue and joint pain on October 13, prompting health officials to isolate him and collect samples for testing. The infection was confirmed by both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute’s Centre for Disease Control (KEMRI-CDC) laboratory.

He has since been transferred to a designated treatment centre, where medical teams are providing supportive care.

Health Director-General Dr. Patrick Amoth said the early detection demonstrated the effectiveness of the country’s surveillance and containment measures, noting that the patient had been isolated before he could potentially expose others.

The ministry said the two confirmed cases were linked, with no evidence so far of transmission within the wider community.

Health officials have identified 128 people who came into contact with the first patient, of whom 113 have been traced. Of these, 108 are currently under quarantine in Kenya and undergoing daily clinical assessments and temperature monitoring for 21 days from their last possible exposure.

Five other contacts are outside Kenya, and health authorities in the countries concerned have been notified in accordance with international health regulations. Efforts to trace the remaining 15 contacts are continuing.

Health officials are also identifying and assessing individuals who may have come into contact with the second patient after he developed symptoms, including healthcare workers and quarantine personnel.

The ministry said infection prevention and control measures had been strengthened at quarantine and treatment facilities, with healthcare workers instructed to observe strict safety protocols.

Kenya has notified the World Health Organization of the cases but has not imposed restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings.

The government urged the public to remain vigilant and seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding.

Ebola is a severe viral disease transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, including someone who has died from the disease.

The Bundibugyo strain is one of the Ebola viruses known to cause outbreaks in humans, with infections potentially resulting in severe illness and death.

The ministry said its response was being coordinated under the Public Health (Declaration of Formidable Epidemic Disease) Order, 2026, and the Public Health (Ebola Disease) Rules, 2026.

Government officials appealed for calm, saying early detection, isolation and contact tracing remained central to preventing further transmission.

Members of the public were advised to rely on official health updates and contact the ministry’s toll-free hotline, 719, for further information.