Kenya has confirmed a second case of Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease, bringing the countryโs confirmed tally to two cases and one death as health authorities intensify contact tracing and monitoring to prevent further transmission.
In a press release dated Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the Ministry of Health said the latest patient is a 39-year-old man who is a close family member of the first patient. He had already been placed in quarantine and was under daily monitoring when he developed symptoms on Tuesday, October 13.
The development highlights the importance of contact tracing and quarantine in detecting infectious diseases early as Kenya responds to the Ebola outbreak.
According to Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, the patient developed fever, fatigue and joint pains, prompting the quarantine team to isolate him and collect a specimen for laboratory testing.
The samples tested positive at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-CDC laboratory, with the two facilities returning matching results.
The patient has since been transferred to a designated treatment centre, where healthcare teams are providing supportive care.
The Ministry said his illness was detected early because he was already in quarantine, allowing health workers to isolate him as soon as symptoms emerged and reducing opportunities for further exposure.
๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฏ ๐ข๐ณ ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ด ๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐น๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐
The Ministry reported that 128 contacts linked to the first case had been identified. By October 13, health authorities had traced 113 of them.
Of those traced, 108 were in quarantine in Kenya and undergoing daily clinical assessments and temperature checks. The remaining five contacts are outside the country, and authorities in their respective locations have been notified.
Contact tracing for the remaining 15 people is ongoing. Those placed under monitoring are expected to undergo follow-up for 21 days from their last possible exposure.
Health teams are also assessing people who may have interacted with the second patient after his symptoms began, including quarantine personnel and healthcare workers.
The Ministry said any contact who develops symptoms will be isolated and tested immediately. Infection prevention and control measures have also been strengthened at quarantine and treatment facilities, with healthcare workers provided with the necessary protective equipment.
The World Health Organization has been notified in accordance with the International Health Regulations of 2005.
๐ก๐ผ ๐๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ณ ๐ช๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ
Despite confirmation of the second case, the Ministry said the two patients are linked and there is currently no evidence of transmission in the wider community.
The first patient died, prompting authorities to initiate contact tracing, quarantine and other emergency public health measures.
The latest case demonstrates the importance of monitoring people who have been exposed to the virus, as symptoms can emerge during the observation period.
Kenyaโs response is being coordinated through a single national command under the Public Health (Declaration of Formidable Epidemic Disease) Order, 2026, and the Public Health (Ebola Disease) Rules, 2026.
The government has not imposed restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ง๐ผ ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐น๐ฎ
The Ministry has urged Kenyans to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and rely on official government updates.
It clarified that Ebola is not spread through the air. Transmission occurs through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with the disease or has died from it.
Members of the public experiencing fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pains, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding have been advised to seek medical attention promptly at the nearest health facility, particularly if they may have been exposed to an infected person.
The Ministry has also appealed to the public to respect the privacy of the affected family and avoid speculation about the patients or their contacts.
Kenyans seeking official information about Ebola can call the Ministry of Healthโs toll-free hotline on 719.
As contact tracing continues, health authorities are relying on early detection, laboratory confirmation, isolation and monitoring to contain the two linked cases and prevent further spread.
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