Kenya reports three weeks without new Ebola case; one patient still in treatment

Kenya has gone three consecutive weeks without a new confirmed Ebola case, and one patient is still in treatment, the Kenya News Agency and KBC reported on 9 November. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale met a World Health Organization (WHO) delegation led by Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Yakub Janabi to review the response to the imported Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease outbreak.

Duale said Kenya has recorded nine cases, all linked to a single transmission cluster, with no evidence of community transmission. Six patients have recovered and been discharged, two have died and one is being treated. The 42-day countdown is expected to begin after the last patient is discharged.

The Ministry of Health said on 3 November that no new case had been reported since 19 October. On 6 November it announced the sixth recovery, the Kenyan news site Kenyans.co.ke reported, and said the 42 days are twice the longest time the illness takes to appear and that Kenya will be declared Ebola-free if no new infection is reported in that period.

Duale said more than 772,000 travellers had been screened at 28 points of entry, 736 samples tested across five designated laboratories and more than 7,300 health workers trained.

Duale acknowledged WHO's technical and operational support, including response supplies, personal protective equipment and validation of Kenya's Filovirus Surveillance Standard Operating Procedures. He welcomed the donation of 12 portable PCR systems and a 28-bed Ebola Treatment Unit, and asked for more support on diagnostics, training, and isolation and treatment facilities in high-risk counties.

He voiced concern about blanket travel bans and visa restrictions imposed by some countries, and asked WHO to help ensure that public health measures are guided by scientific evidence and the International Health Regulations. Transparent reporting of a health emergency, he said, should be met with international solidarity rather than punitive restrictions.

Separately, Saudi Arabia suspended travel by its citizens to Kenya and all categories of visas for people arriving from Kenya, the Saudi Press Agency reported on 30 October, as quoted by the Kenyan news site Citizen Digital. Travellers arriving from Kenya, directly or through third countries, and anyone who has stayed in Kenya or another country with an active Ebola outbreak in the 21 days before arrival are barred from entry. In a Ministry of Health statement on 31 October, Duale said the measures were "not only excessive but not backed by the current epidemiological situation in the country", Kenyans.co.ke reported.

The two sides agreed to develop a joint Kenya–WHO action plan covering the donated diagnostic equipment, capacity building and the remaining phase of the response, and to carry out an After-Action Review. They also agreed to monitor the countdown jointly and to make a coordinated declaration of the end of the outbreak once public health criteria are met.

Also at the meeting were WHO Representative to Kenya Dr Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni Muriuki, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga and Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth. The talks also covered Universal Health Coverage through the Social Health Authority, strengthening the Kenya National Public Health Institute, local manufacturing of health products, health financing and digital health.

Of the contacts of confirmed cases, 66 had completed the 21-day monitoring period and gone home by 6 November, and 52 more were expected to finish quarantine by 11 November. The Ministry asks the public to report suspected cases on the toll-free line 719, by dialling *719#, or on WhatsApp at 0700 719 719.