NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has confirmed four new cases of Ebola disease, raising the country’s total to seven, including the first patient who died, as health authorities intensify efforts to contain the outbreak.
The latest infections involve a close male relative of the deceased patient and three healthcare workers who attended to him in hospital, according to a statement issued by Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
The three healthcare workers — two men and one woman aged 29, 35 and 32 — treated the first patient between October 3 and 4.
All four patients developed fever as their first symptom before testing positive for Bundibugyo virus disease. Their infections were confirmed by the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratory.
“The patients are currently receiving supportive care from our trained health workers,” Amoth said.
The ministry reported that the second and third patients were stable and responding well to treatment.
The latest cases mark a significant development in Kenya’s response, as infections have now been detected among healthcare workers who treated the initial patient. The four new patients were already in quarantine when their infections were confirmed.
Healthcare workers among new cases
The three health workers had been in quarantine since October 9 and were receiving care at a designated treatment facility, according to the ministry.
The newly confirmed male patient, a close relative of the deceased, had been in quarantine since October 6.
Amoth said the early detection of the four infections had helped reduce the risk of further transmission to their families and the wider community.
“Since all the four new cases have been in quarantine, they were diagnosed early limiting risk of further spread of the disease,” he said.
The infections among healthcare workers highlight the importance of strict infection prevention and control procedures when treating suspected or confirmed Ebola patients. Protective equipment, appropriate isolation procedures and careful handling of potentially infectious bodily fluids are central to reducing exposure in healthcare settings.
The ministry has not indicated that the latest cases resulted from a breach of infection-control procedures. The circumstances surrounding their exposure would need to be established through the ongoing epidemiological investigation.
128 contacts traced as surveillance intensifies
The Ministry of Health said 128 of the 130 contacts identified in connection with the outbreak had been traced and placed in quarantine, representing 98.5 per cent.
The government said the figure exceeded the global contact-tracing benchmark of 85 per cent that it cited as important in efforts to interrupt transmission.
Authorities were still working to locate and quarantine the two remaining contacts.
The ministry cautioned that additional infections could emerge among people already in quarantine before their 21-day monitoring period ends. Anyone developing symptoms during that period is expected to be identified, isolated and treated promptly.
Health teams are also monitoring four family members of the deceased patient and healthcare workers who cared for him during his hospital stay. Those in quarantine are receiving mental-health and psychosocial support, according to the ministry.
The growing number of confirmed infections underscores the importance of completing contact tracing and maintaining surveillance throughout the full monitoring period.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has been supporting Kenya’s response, including efforts to identify cases early and strengthen outbreak-control measures.
Government says public risk remains low
Despite the increase in confirmed cases, the Ministry of Health maintained that the risk to the general public remained low, citing the absence of evidence of wider community transmission.
However, the detection of infections among healthcare workers and relatives demonstrates that transmission has occurred among people linked to the first patient. Authorities must continue investigating these links to establish whether the virus has spread beyond the known chain of contacts.
The government has not imposed restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings, Amoth said, urging Kenyans to remain calm while following official health guidance.
Ebola does not spread through the air like influenza or measles. Transmission occurs through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms, or the body of someone who has died from the disease. Contaminated objects can also pose a risk.
The ministry urged anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding to seek medical assessment promptly, particularly if they may have been exposed to a confirmed case.
Members of the public can call the Ministry of Health’s toll-free information line on 719 for guidance.
Kenya’s response enters a critical phase
Kenya’s first confirmed patient had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi on October 3. He later tested positive for Bundibugyo virus disease and died on October 5.
The subsequent infections were identified among close contacts, including relatives and healthcare workers.
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The Bundibugyo virus is one of the viruses that cause Ebola disease. There are no approved vaccines or specific treatments for the Bundibugyo strain, making early detection, supportive care, isolation and contact tracing particularly important in controlling an outbreak.
With seven confirmed cases and one death, the immediate priorities for Kenyan authorities are to locate the two outstanding contacts, monitor everyone exposed to the virus and reinforce infection prevention measures in healthcare facilities.
The ministry’s assessment that the risk to the wider public remains low will depend in part on whether surveillance continues to identify infections promptly and whether transmission remains confined to known contacts.
For now, health officials are urging vigilance rather than panic, while warning that more cases could emerge before the monitoring period for exposed individuals is complete.
