By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya ,June 25 2026 - Kenya has screened more than 140,000 travellers arriving from Ebola-affected regions and investigated over 100 suspected alerts, with all tests returning negative results, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Duale assured Kenyans that the country has not recorded any confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease despite ongoing outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
"Kenya has screened more than 140,000 travellers arriving from affected areas and investigated over 100 alerts, all of which have tested negative for Ebola," the Health CS said.
Duale noted that Kenya remains vulnerable to a potential imported case due to its position as a regional transport and trade hub with extensive connections to neighbouring countries.
To strengthen preparedness, the government activated the national Ebola Incident Management System on 20 May 2026 through the Kenya National Public Health Institute.
"First and foremost, I wish to assure all Kenyans that Kenya has not reported any confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease," he said.
The Ministry of Health has since implemented a series of preventive measures across the country, including enhanced screening at airports and border crossings, strengthened disease surveillance and rapid response mechanisms, expanded laboratory testing capacity, and the identification of isolation and treatment facilities.
Healthcare workers have also undergone specialised training, while the government has increased stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other critical medical supplies. Public awareness campaigns have also been rolled out to educate citizens on Ebola prevention and response.
Addressing concerns about the establishment of isolation and quarantine facilities, Duale emphasised that the facilities are precautionary and do not indicate the presence of Ebola cases in the country.
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"Just as a country prepares fire engines before a fire occurs, public health authorities must prepare isolation and quarantine facilities before an outbreak occurs. These facilities do not mean Kenya has an Ebola case," he said.
He added that investing in preparedness is more cost-effective than responding to a full-scale outbreak, noting that previous Ebola epidemics in Africa resulted in significant economic losses.
While assuring the public that there is no cause for alarm, the Ministry urged Kenyans to remain alert and observe preventive measures.
The ministry advised citizens to regularly wash their hands with soap and running water or use alcohol-based hand sanitisers, avoid contact with bodily fluids of sick individuals—particularly those with recent travel history to affected countries—and refrain from handling sick or dead wild animals.
Kenyans were also urged to avoid non-essential travel to Ebola-affected areas and to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever, severe headache, sore throat, extreme fatigue, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding, especially after travel to affected regions.
Duale called on community leaders, religious organisations, healthcare workers, transport operators, and the media to support the government's preparedness efforts.
"The Government remains fully committed to protecting the health, safety, and wellbeing of all Kenyans. We will continue to provide timely updates as the situation evolves," he said.