Kenya confirms a second Bundibugyo Ebola case, with one death reported and 128 contacts identified as health authorities continue tracing and monitoring….reports Africa Daily News Desk
Kenya has confirmed a second case of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus, with health authorities reporting that the patient was identified while already in quarantine. The government said contact tracing and monitoring were under way, with no evidence of wider community transmission reported as of October 14, 2026.
The Ministry of Health said the patient was a 39-year-old man and a close family member of the first confirmed case. He developed symptoms on October 13 while under daily monitoring in quarantine.
Kenya has now recorded two confirmed cases and one death, according to a press release issued by the Office of the Director General for Health in Nairobi on Wednesday.
Patient isolated after symptoms emerge
The ministry said the man developed fever, fatigue and joint pain, prompting the quarantine team to isolate him and collect a specimen for testing.
Samples tested positive at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the KEMRI-CDC laboratory, with the results matching.
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The patient has since been transferred to a designated treatment centre, where trained medical teams are providing supportive care.
Health officials said his illness was detected early because he was already in quarantine. The ministry added that early supportive care could improve his chances of recovery, while prompt isolation could reduce the risk of transmission to others.
Authorities said updates on his condition would be shared as appropriate.
Contact tracing underway for 128 people
The Ministry of Health said it had listed 128 contacts linked to the first case. By October 13, officials had traced 113 of them.
Of those traced, 108 were in quarantine in Kenya and undergoing daily clinical assessments and temperature checks for 21 days from their last possible exposure.
The remaining five contacts were outside Kenya, and health authorities in their respective countries had been notified in line with the International Health Regulations (2005).
Contact tracing for the remaining 15 people was continuing, the ministry said.
Officials are also assessing people who may have come into contact with the second patient since his symptoms began. These include quarantine staff and healthcare workers.
Anyone identified as a contact who develops symptoms will be isolated and tested immediately, according to the ministry.
Kenya strengthens Ebola infection controls
The government said infection prevention and control measures had been reinforced at quarantine facilities and treatment centres. Healthcare workers have been provided with protective equipment and instructed to follow strict infection control procedures.
The response is being coordinated under the Public Health (Declaration of Formidable Epidemic Disease) Order, 2026, and the Public Health (Ebola Disease) Rules, 2026, the statement said.
The World Health Organization has been notified in accordance with the International Health Regulations (2005).
Despite the confirmed cases, Kenya remains open, with no restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings, the ministry said.
Public urged to remain vigilant
Health authorities have urged residents to remain calm while staying alert to possible symptoms.
The ministry said Ebola does not spread through the air but through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of a person who is sick with, or has died from, the disease.
Anyone experiencing fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding has been advised to seek medical attention promptly at the nearest health facility.
The ministry also urged the public to respect the privacy of affected families, rely on official government updates and call Kenya’s toll-free information line, 719, for further guidance.
Authorities said contact tracing, quarantine and monitoring would continue as part of efforts to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission.
