{From the Social Media Page}
MINISTRY OF HEALTH | REPUBLIC OF KENYA | OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR HEALTH | PRESS RELEASE
DAY 17: NO NEW CASES, ALL CONTACTS TRACED, AND FIRST CONTACTS SET TO RETURN HOME
Nairobi, 22nd October 2026
Today marks Day 17 since Kenya confirmed its first imported case of Ebola (Bundibugyo Virus Disease) on 06th October 2026, and the country's response continues to make steady progress.
All the 14 samples collected and tested from various alerts in different parts of the country over the last 24 hours were negative for BVD.
The total number of cases confirmed remains nine (9), including the index case, who died on 05th October, 2026.
All the cases belong to a single cluster, with no evidence of community spread.
Our patients are stable and progressing well.
The eight patients undergoing treatment in our designated isolation facilities, four family members and four health workers who cared for the first case, are stable and responding well to treatment from our infectious disease specialists.
We look forward to each of them completing treatment, recovering fully, and being discharged home to their families.
Every contact has been traced, at home and abroad.
All the 135 contacts associated with the first case have been traced (100%), both within Kenya and internationally, and the relevant health authorities of the countries concerned have been formally informed in line with the International Health Regulations (2005).
We thank our national and county contact-tracing teams, families, communities and our development partners for this significant achievement.
What we know about how the infections occurred. Our epidemiologists have mapped the exposure dates, quarantine dates, and symptom onset of every case. Each patient was in close contact with the first case between 3rd and 5th October, before entering quarantine, and each fell ill within the known incubation period of Ebola (2-21 days). This pattern is consistent with infection from the first case. It also shows that no infection has been traced to transmission within our quarantine facilities, where infection prevention and control measures have been strengthened further.
Each contact's 21-day monitoring period is counted from their own last exposure, and anyone exposed to a later confirmed case is monitored from that date thereof.
Surveillance and testing continue nationwide. Enhanced surveillance continues in health facilities and communities across all counties.
At points of entry, 709,093 travellers have been screened, including 3,107 in the last 24 hours. A total of 461 samples have been tested since the start of the outbreak in May 2026.
Going home this weekend. From Sunday, 25th October, the first contacts to complete 21 days of monitoring and who will be in good health, will be released from quarantine and reunited with their families. Their sacrifice has helped keep Kenya safe, and the nation is grateful to them and to those who stood by them. As they return, we ask neighbours, workplaces and communities to receive them warmly. They have passed the full monitoring period without falling ill and cannot pass the infection to anybody.
Life in Kenya continues as normal: travel, trade and public gatherings are not restricted. Every Kenyan can help bring this outbreak to a close. We ask you to keep following the guidance of the Ministry of Health and to cooperate fully with the response teams. Anyone with fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pains, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding should seek help immediately at the nearest health facility, by calling 719 free of charge, or through Jali our WhatsApp chatbot on 0700 719 719. Let us stand with our patients, contacts and health workers with compassion, not stigma. The end of this outbreak is within reach, and together we will get there.
Dr. Patrick Amoth, CBS | DIRECTOR GENERAL
Source:
Link: https://www.facebook.com/MinstryofHealthKE?__tn__=%2Cd-UC*F
____
No comments:
Post a Comment