Kenya has reported four additional Ebola cases, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to seven, including one patient who has died, as health authorities intensify efforts to contain the outbreak.
The Ministry of Health announced the new cases on Saturday, October 17, 2026, saying all four patients had developed fever before testing positive for the virus.
The latest infections involve a close male relative of the first patient who died and three health workers who treated him while he was in hospital.
In a statement signed by Director General of Health Dr Patrick Amoth, the ministry confirmed that the four new cases had been identified through ongoing surveillance and monitoring of people who had been in contact with the deceased patient.
“This brings the total number of confirmed cases to seven (7), including the deceased first case,” the ministry stated.
According to the ministry, the male relative had been in quarantine since October 6, while the three health workers were placed in quarantine on October 9. The health workers comprise two men and one woman aged 29, 35 and 32, respectively.
The four patients tested positive at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratory. They are currently receiving supportive care at designated treatment facilities as health officials continue to monitor their condition.
Kenya uses a two-laboratory testing process to confirm Ebola infections. Samples are tested at both facilities to verify positive results and support the accuracy of the diagnosis.
The three health workers had attended to the first patient between October 3 and October 4, placing them among the people being closely monitored by health authorities following his death.
The ministry said the early identification of the new infections was possible because all four patients had already been placed in quarantine.
This helped health officials detect the cases before the patients could potentially spread the virus to their families and other members of the public.
Health authorities are continuing to monitor contacts linked to the confirmed cases as they work to prevent further infections.
Dr Amoth reassured Kenyans that the risk to the wider public remained low, noting that there was no evidence of community transmission at the time of the announcement.
“The Ministry wishes to reassure Kenyans that the risk to the general public remains low as there is no evidence of community transmission of the disease,” he said.
The latest cases bring the total number of confirmed infections to seven, including the first patient who died, highlighting the importance of quarantine, laboratory testing and close monitoring of people who have been exposed to the virus.
