Kenya has confirmed four additional cases of Ebola, bringing the country’s total number of confirmed infections to seven, including one death, as health authorities step up efforts to contain the outbreak.
The Ministry of Health announced the new cases on Saturday, October 17, 2026, saying the latest patients include a close male relative of the first patient, who died, and three healthcare workers who treated him in hospital.
According to the ministry, all four patients developed fever before testing positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. Their infections were confirmed through tests conducted at the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).
The three healthcare workers, comprising two men and one woman, had been placed in quarantine on October 9 after attending to the first patient between October 3 and 4. The male relative had been in quarantine since October 6.
Health officials said all four cases were detected while the patients were in quarantine, allowing them to be identified early and helping reduce the risk of further spread. The patients are receiving supportive care at designated treatment facilities.
The ministry has also reported progress in tracing people who may have come into contact with infected individuals. Of the 130 contacts identified, 128 had been traced and placed in quarantine, while efforts to locate the remaining two were continuing.
Despite the increase in confirmed cases, the government said the risk to the general public remained low, noting that there was no evidence of community transmission beyond the identified contacts at the time of the announcement.
The government further stated that no restrictions had been imposed on travel, trade or public gatherings.
Ebola spreads mainly through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person or someone who has died from the disease. Kenyans have been urged to remain vigilant, follow official health updates and seek medical attention if they develop concerning symptoms.
For guidance, members of the public can contact the Ministry of Health through its toll-free hotline, 719.