The key facts

  • Kenya has nine confirmed Ebola cases, including one death; all cases belong to a single cluster
  • 134 of 135 contacts traced (99.3%); contacts quarantined on October 6 will be released on October 25
  • Kenya has received 500 doses of medication; in the DR Congo, according to the ECDC, there are over 9,000 infections and more than 4,000 deaths

Ninth case in a single cluster

Kenya's Ministry of Health on Tuesday confirmed another case of Ebola, bringing the total to nine, including the first patient, who died. Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth stated that all nine cases belong to a single cluster and, as of now, there are no signs of transmission beyond it. The new patient is a 24-year-old man, a close relative of the first confirmed case; he developed symptoms while in quarantine, and his test came back positive on October 19. He was immediately isolated and began treatment.

Patients' condition and contact tracing

According to Amoth, the eight surviving patients are responding positively to treatment, and their condition is improving under constant medical observation. The Ministry of Health has traced and quarantined 134 of the 135 identified contacts — 99.3%, exceeding the international benchmark of 85%. The number of contacts continues to grow as new people who may have been in contact with recently confirmed patients are identified. Authorities said no infections have occurred within quarantine facilities, and infection prevention measures to protect healthcare workers are under constant review. Contacts placed in quarantine on October 6 who remain symptom-free will be able to return home on October 25 after completing the 21-day observation period.

Measures and the regional situation

Kenya has received 500 doses of medication to support treatment, and protective equipment, diagnostic materials and other medical supplies have been distributed across 28 counties classified as high or very high risk. A separate laboratory has been set up in the infectious diseases unit of the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi to test Ebola patients without disrupting the hospital laboratory's operations. Despite the new cases, no restrictions on travel, trade or mass gatherings have been introduced — authorities emphasize that the country is 'open for business.' The first patient lived in the DR Congo, traveled through Uganda and arrived in Nairobi on October 3; he died two days later. The outbreak has raised concerns about the spread of Ebola in East Africa. According to figures attributed to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, as of October 14, more than 9,000 infections and over 4,000 deaths have been recorded in Congo — the second-largest Ebola epidemic in history. Regional health services continue to monitor the risk of cross-border transmission.