By Pascal Ndegwa - Reporter
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Kenya, October 20 ,2026 - Kenya’s health leaders have confirmed a ninth case of Ebola, but they say the virus is still locked inside one single family group. The newest patient is a 24-year-old man who is related to the first patient who died.
Because doctors already knew he was at risk, he was already staying inside a safe quarantine house when he started feeling sick on October 19. Healthcare workers quickly gave him a test and started his care right away, meaning he never had a chance to pass the sickness to anyone in the community.
All eight patients getting treatment at the hospital are now doing much better, feeling stronger, and recovering under close care. Health teams across the country have done an impressive job tracking down 134 out of 135 people who came near the sick patients. That means doctors have found over 99 percent of all contacts, which is way higher than the world safety target of 85 percent.
Best of all, the very first group of healthy people who went into 21-day quarantine on October 6 will finish their safety period this coming weekend on October 25 and can go back home to their families.
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This good news comes at the same time the United States government raised its travel warning for Kenya to Level 3, telling American citizens to reconsider travelling to the country. While the American government raised its warning level because of extra caution over health and local security, Kenyan doctors explain that the situation on the ground is well under control.
Kenya’s borders, airports, schools, and markets remain completely open, with no bans on travel or public gatherings. To keep everyone safe, the Ministry of Health has sent protective clothing, gloves, and testing kits to hospitals in 28 counties.
They also set up a special testing laboratory at Kenyatta National Hospital just for Ebola samples so that regular hospital work is never interrupted. Top doctor Dr. Patrick Amoth asked everyone in Kenya to welcome home the people leaving quarantine on October 25 with open arms, reminding communities that anyone who finishes 21 days without getting sick is totally healthy and cannot spread the virus. Anyone who feels a fever, body aches, or unusual tiredness should simply visit the nearest clinic or call the free helpline at 719 for assistance.