Kenya confirms four new Ebola cases, bringing total to seven

Kenya has reported four additional Ebola cases, raising the country's total to seven infections and one death, as officials ramp up containment measures. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Director-General, Dr Jean Kaseya, announced the new infections on October 17, 2026, following their confirmation on Saturday.

The outbreak started when a Kenyan citizen returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with Ebola symptoms on October 3, after living in the DRC for seven years. Three of the newly infected patients are healthcare workers who treated the first Ebola patient, while the fourth is a relative of the deceased. Africa CDC praised Kenya's vigilance and pledged continued support for the country's response.

In response, Kenya has quarantined 128 out of 130 identified contacts to curb further spread. The Africa CDC had previously provided Kenya with 400 Ebola detection tests, 500 extraction kits, laboratory consumables, and protective coveralls to bolster the country's testing capabilities.