Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announces Kenya’s Ebola response milestone at Afya House.
Health officials will maintain surveillance nationwide as Kenya prepares to start the countdown on November 12 following seven recoveries.
Kenya will begin a 42-day Ebola countdown on November 12, 2026, after discharging its last patient. The final 11 contacts also completed their mandatory 21-day monitoring period without developing symptoms.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the milestone at Afya House on November 11. He said seven patients had recovered, while all identified contacts had completed follow-up monitoring.
If Kenya records no new infections during the countdown, it could secure Ebola-free status around December 23, 2026. However, the Ministry of Health will maintain heightened surveillance across all 47 counties throughout the period.
What the Ebola countdown means
The countdown covers two consecutive 21-day incubation periods, reflecting the maximum time Ebola symptoms can take to develop. This allows health teams to check for previously undetected transmission before declaring the outbreak over.
Kenya recorded nine confirmed cases of Bundibugyo virus disease, including two deaths, within a single transmission cluster. Eight secondary infections involved four family members and four healthcare workers. However, health authorities found no evidence of wider community transmission.
The initial imported case involved a Kenyan national who travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda. Tests at the National Virology Reference Laboratory and KEMRI confirmed the infection. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation places Kenya’s last confirmed infection on October 19.
Health teams traced and monitored all 135 contacts linked to confirmed cases, the ministry said. Five patients left hospital on November 3, followed by the sixth on November 6. The final patient’s discharge completed the seven recoveries.
Surveillance continues as Duale challenges travel restrictions
During the countdown, rapid response teams will remain ready to investigate suspected infections across the country. Health facilities will also continue active surveillance, alongside screening at airports and other entry points.
Authorities will maintain community awareness programmes and follow-up support for survivors. Duale urged people with symptoms, particularly those returning from affected areas, to seek immediate medical attention. The public can also call the ministry’s toll-free 719 hotline.
Bundibugyo virus spreads through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or contaminated materials, particularly after symptoms develop. Although no licensed vaccine or specific treatment exists, WHO says early detection and supportive care improve outcomes.
Meanwhile, Duale said Kenya remained open for tourism, trade and international travel, rejecting restrictions on movement or public gatherings. He urged countries that imposed travel and visa restrictions to lift them.
He also said Kenya would not quarantine travellers to satisfy other countries’ entry conditions or issue Ebola-free travel certificates. On response funding, Duale pledged a public account of financial and material support from partners and other stakeholders.
