NAIROBI, Kenya—Kenya has confirmed a second case of Ebola, with 108 contacts linked to the first patient in quarantine as health authorities intensify surveillance and contact tracing to prevent further transmission.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the Ministry of Health said the latest patient is a 39-year-old man and a close family member of the first confirmed case. He had been placed under quarantine and monitored daily before developing symptoms on October 13.
The patient developed fever, fatigue and joint pains, prompting health teams to isolate him and collect samples for testing. The samples returned positive results at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute–Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KEMRI-CDC) laboratory.
He has since been transferred to a designated treatment centre, where he is receiving supportive care.
Kenya has now recorded two confirmed cases of Ebola, also known as Bundibugyo Virus Disease, and one death. The Ministry said both cases were linked and that there was no evidence of wider community transmission at the time of the statement.
The detection of the second case comes as authorities continue tracking people who may have been exposed to the first patient. According to the Ministry, 128 contacts were identified, of whom 113 had been traced by October 13.
Of those traced, 108 are in quarantine in Kenya, where they are undergoing daily clinical assessments and temperature checks for 21 days from their last possible exposure. The remaining five contacts are outside the country, and the relevant health authorities have been notified in line with the International Health Regulations.
Contact tracing for the 15 people not yet reached is ongoing. Health teams are also assessing people who may have come into contact with the second patient after he developed symptoms, including quarantine staff and healthcare workers.
The Ministry said anyone under monitoring who develops symptoms will be isolated and tested immediately. It added that infection prevention and control measures had been strengthened at quarantine and treatment facilities, with healthcare workers provided with the necessary protective equipment.
The 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 World Health Organization has also been notified in accordance with international health regulations.
Despite the confirmation of a second case, the Ministry said Kenya remained open, with no restrictions imposed on travel, trade or public gatherings.
The Ministry urged members of the public to remain vigilant and seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms associated with Ebola, including fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pains, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding.
It clarified that Ebola does not spread through the air but through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person who is sick or has died from the disease.
Members of the public were also urged to respect the privacy of the affected family, rely on official Ministry of Health updates and call the toll-free number 719 for information.
The latest confirmation comes after earlier reassurance from the World Health Organization that Kenya was not at risk following the first reported case. The evolving situation underscores the importance of continued surveillance, rapid testing and contact tracing as health authorities work to prevent further transmission.
