The Health Ministry says Kenya has gone 18 days without a new infection, but one patient remains in treatment before the 42-day countdown can begin.
Kenya’s Ebola-free countdown will begin after the last patient recovers and leaves treatment, the Ministry of Health has said. The announcement follows the sixth recovery from the Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak, with one patient still receiving care.
In a November 6 update, Health Director-General Dr Patrick Amoth said the latest patient had tested negative. The man had also met the medical requirements for discharge.
Meanwhile, Kenya has gone 18 days without detecting a new infection. The outbreak has recorded nine confirmed cases, including two deaths, since it began in October.
How the Ebola-free countdown will work
The ministry said the 42-day period starts only when the final patient leaves the treatment centre virus-free. Kenya will qualify for an Ebola-free declaration if health authorities detect no new infection during that period.
However, the countdown has not yet started because one patient remains in treatment. The 42 days represent twice the longest period the illness can take to appear, the ministry explained.
This process differs from the 21-day monitoring period for people who had contact with confirmed patients. During that shorter period, health teams monitor exposed people to establish whether they develop symptoms.
So far, 66 contacts have completed monitoring and returned home. Another 52 people are expected to finish quarantine by November 11.
Contact tracing and border screening continue
Kenya confirmed its first imported case on October 6, 2026. Health authorities then traced contacts and identified further infections among people linked to the initial patient.
The ministry said all nine cases belong to one known transmission chain, with no community spread. It also said health teams detected the subsequent cases among people already in quarantine, allowing isolation and treatment. The most recent confirmed infection occurred on October 19.
Meanwhile, the government continues to screen travellers at all 26 points of entry. Health teams have screened more than 760,000 people, while county emergency response teams remain on alert.
Members of the public can report suspected Ebola emergencies through the ministry’s toll-free number, 719. They can also dial *719# or send a WhatsApp message to 0700 719 719.
