Kenya: Ebola Outbreak Nears End With Only One Patient Remaining in Treatment

Kenya has recorded its sixth recovery from the Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak, leaving only one patient in treatment as health officials prepare to launch a 42-day countdown toward declaring the country free of the virus.

Ministry of Health Director-General Dr Patrick Amoth announced on Friday, November 6, that the latest patient, an adult male, tested negative for the virus and met all medical criteria for discharge. The announcement comes as the ministry confirmed the nation has gone 18 consecutive days without detecting a new infection.

"The total number of confirmed cases remains nine, all from one known chain of transmission, and there has been no spread in the community," the Ministry said.

The official countdown to an Ebola-free status will officially begin once the final patient is discharged from the treatment centre. Health authorities explained that the 42-day period represents twice the maximum 21-day incubation period of the virus, serving as the international benchmark to confirm the containment of an outbreak.

This countdown operates independently of the contact-tracing protocol. So far, 66 individuals who were exposed to confirmed patients have completed their mandatory 21-day isolation period and returned home. Another 52 contacts remain in isolation and are expected to complete their monitoring period by November 11.

The outbreak began on October 6, 2026, when Kenya confirmed its first imported case. Subsequent contact tracing identified eight additional cases linked directly to the primary patient. The last infection was recorded on October 19, with all subsequent cases detected among individuals already in quarantine facilities.

Out of the nine confirmed cases, two patients succumbed to the illness in October.

Government response measures remain active despite the decline in active cases. Border health personnel have screened more than 760,000 travellers across 26 points of entry, while emergency response teams maintain high alert across all counties.

The Ministry of Health has urged the public to report any suspected cases through its toll-free hotline 719, via USSD code *719#, or through WhatsApp on 0700 719 719.