Kenya Confirms Second Ebola Case as Contact Tracing Intensifies

Story by Monyonge O’kebati

Kenya has confirmed a second case of Ebola, with health authorities intensifying contact tracing and quarantine measures following the detection of the Bundibugyo virus disease in a 39-year-old man.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the Ministry of Health said the patient was a close family member of the first confirmed case and had already been placed in quarantine under daily monitoring when he developed symptoms on October 13.
The Ministry reported that Kenya had recorded two confirmed cases and one death as of the date of the statement.
According to the Ministry, the patient developed fever, fatigue and joint pains, prompting the quarantine team to isolate him and collect samples for laboratory testing.
The samples tested positive at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the KEMRI-CDC laboratory, with the two facilities returning matching results.
The patient was subsequently transferred to a designated treatment centre, where trained medical teams are providing supportive care.
The Ministry said the case had been detected early because the patient was already under quarantine, adding that prompt isolation after the onset of symptoms helps limit the risk of further transmission.
Contact tracing targets more than 100 people
Health authorities are continuing to trace and monitor individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.
The Ministry said it had identified 128 contacts of the first case, of whom 113 had been traced by October 13.
Of those already traced, 108 were in quarantine in Kenya and undergoing daily clinical assessments and temperature checks for 21 days from their last possible exposure.
The remaining five contacts were outside the country, and health authorities in their respective countries had been notified in line with international health requirements.
The Ministry said efforts to trace the remaining 15 contacts were continuing.
Authorities were also assessing people who had interacted with the second patient since his symptoms began, including quarantine personnel and healthcare workers.
The government maintained that there was no evidence of transmission in the wider community at the time of the announcement, noting that both confirmed cases were linked.
Health workers placed on alert
The Ministry said infection prevention and control measures had been reinforced at quarantine facilities and treatment centres, with healthcare workers receiving the protective equipment required to manage suspected cases.
It added that anyone among the identified contacts who develops symptoms would be isolated and tested immediately.
The response is being coordinated under Kenya’s public health legal framework, including the Public Health (Declaration of Formidable Epidemic Disease) Order, 2026, and the Public Health (Ebola Disease) Rules, 2026.
The World Health Organization had also been notified in accordance with the International Health Regulations (2005).
Public urged to remain vigilant
The Ministry urged Kenyans to remain calm while observing recommended precautions, warning that Ebola can spread through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person or someone who has died from the disease.
Members of the public experiencing fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pains, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding were advised to seek medical attention promptly at the nearest health facility.
The Ministry also appealed to the public to respect the privacy of affected families and rely on official government communication for updates.
Kenya remained open, with no restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings announced in the statement.
The Ministry advised members of the public seeking further information to call the toll-free hotline 719.