The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting the Ministry of Health’s response after Kenya confirmed its second and third cases of Bundibugyo Ebola, on 14 and 16 October. The two patients, a 39-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman, are both close family members of Kenya’s first case and were already in quarantine when they fell ill. Kenya has now confirmed three cases, including one death.
Kenya’s first case, a Kenyan man who had travelled home from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, died on the night of 5 October. It was the first Ebola case ever recorded in Kenya. Health teams quickly identified 130 people who had been in contact with him, including family members, friends, health workers who cared for him and people who travelled on the same flight.
By 16 October, 127 of the 130 contacts listed by the Ministry were in quarantine, with daily temperature and symptom checks for 21 days, the longest it can take for someone to fall ill after exposure.
“Being quarantined means the family and the general public are better protected from exposure to the virus, hence reducing chances of community transmission,” says Dr Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, WHO Representative to Kenya.
Ebola is not spread through the air. It spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with, or has died from, the disease, or with objects contaminated by these fluids.
The early signs of Bundibugyo Ebola look like malaria and other common illnesses, and include fever, tiredness, muscle or joint pains, headache and sore throat. Later signs can include vomiting, diarrhoea and impaired kidney and liver functions. Many people believe that bleeding is a common sign of Ebola. In fact, it is less common, and when it happens it usually appears later in the illness.
There is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo Ebola yet, although trials are under way in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Both patients are receiving supportive care, such as fluids to prevent dehydration and treatment of their symptoms, in designated treatment units. Early supportive care improves the chance of survival. The Ministry of Health reports that the second patient is in stable condition and responding well to supportive care.
People with Ebola cannot pass it on before they have symptoms, so isolating both patients at their very first symptoms keep the chance of them passing the virus to others low.
“This is the response working as designed,” said Dr Patrick Amoth, Director General for Health, Ministry of Health.
Both new cases are linked to the first, imported case, and the Ministry of Health has confirmed that “there is no evidence of community transmission of the disease”. The Ministry has also noted that further cases among quarantined contacts are possible until their monitoring ends, and that any such cases will be detected and treated just as quickly.
Kenya began preparing for a possible Ebola case in May 2026, when the outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and nearly 5000 health workers have since been trained, with support from WHO, to recognize the disease and care for patients safely. Since the first case was confirmed, WHO has been supporting the Ministry of Health across the response, from coordination, surveillance and contact tracing to laboratory testing, patient care, infection prevention and control, health checks at points of entry, and risk communication and community engagement. WHO has also handed over supplies worth around US$ 70 000, including protective equipment, Ebola testing kits and infrared thermometers for screening travellers.
WHO advises against closing borders or restricting trade. The Ministry of Health has confirmed that Kenya remains open, with no restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings.
“The two new cases have been detected early because they were already in quarantine and were being checked every day,” said Dr Kimambo. “WHO commends the Ministry of Health, the Kenya National Public Health Institute and the national and county health teams for their swift action. We thank the health workers, response teams and families in quarantine for their commitment.”
As the remaining contacts complete their 21 days of monitoring, contact tracing and quarantine will continue to be Kenya’s first line of defence. Each daily check is a chance to find illness early, give patients the best chance of recovery, and help keep the virus out of the wider community. WHO will continue to support the Ministry of Health and County Health Teams in this work.
