NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has confirmed four new cases of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease, including three healthcare workers who treated the country’s first patient, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to seven.

Kenya’s Director-General for Health, Dr Patrick Amoth, announced the new infections on Saturday, October 17, 2026, as authorities intensified efforts to contain the outbreak and complete contact tracing.

According to the Ministry of Health, the latest cases involve a close male relative of the first patient, who died after contracting the virus, and three healthcare workers who attended to him during his hospitalisation.

The three health workers, comprising two men and one woman aged 29, 35 and 32, developed symptoms after attending to the initial patient between October 3 and 4.

The ministry said the healthcare workers had been in quarantine since October 9, while the male relative was placed under quarantine on October 6.

All four patients initially developed fever and were immediately isolated before samples were collected for laboratory testing.

Their samples tested positive for Bundibugyo virus disease at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratory.

The four patients are receiving supportive care at designated treatment facilities. Authorities also reported that the second and third patients previously identified in the outbreak were stable and responding well to treatment.

Kenya Races to Trace Remaining Contacts

Amoth said quarantine and monitoring measures had enabled authorities to detect the latest infections early, helping to reduce the risk of further transmission.

The Ministry of Health reported that 128 of the 130 contacts identified in connection with the initial case had been traced and placed in quarantine, representing 98.5 per cent of the total.

Authorities are intensifying efforts to locate the two remaining contacts as health teams continue monitoring those in quarantine throughout the 21-day observation period.

The ministry warned that additional cases could still emerge among people who have already been identified and quarantined, given the time required for symptoms to develop after exposure.

Four family members of the deceased patient, alongside healthcare workers who attended to him during his hospital stay, are also under close monitoring.

The latest infections highlight the risk of Ebola transmission among people exposed to an infected patient, particularly healthcare workers involved in treatment and care.

Government Says Public Risk Remains Low

Despite the increase in confirmed cases, Kenya’s Ministry of Health said there was no evidence of community transmission and maintained that the risk to the general public remained low.

The government has also confirmed that Kenya remains open for business, with no restrictions imposed on travel, trade or public gatherings.

Health authorities have continued strengthening surveillance, quarantine arrangements and infection prevention measures as they work to prevent the outbreak from spreading beyond identified contacts.

The ministry urged Kenyans to remain calm but vigilant, stressing that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected or deceased person, rather than through the air.

Members of the public experiencing symptoms such as fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding have been advised to seek medical attention immediately at the nearest health facility.

Regional Health Concerns

Kenya’s outbreak comes amid heightened public health vigilance in East Africa, where cross-border movement and regional travel make surveillance and rapid identification of exposed individuals particularly important.

The emergence of infections among three healthcare workers also underscores the importance of strict infection prevention and control procedures, appropriate protective equipment and early isolation of suspected cases.

Kenyan authorities say their immediate priority is to trace the remaining contacts, monitor people already in quarantine and ensure that anyone developing symptoms receives prompt testing and care.

The Ministry of Health continues to urge the public to rely on official updates as the country works to contain the outbreak.