Kenya's last Ebola patient leaves hospital
Kenya had nine confirmed cases, while DR Congo continues to battle its deadliest outbreak of the disease.
Nairobi, Kenya - On November 11, 2026, Kenya officially initiated a 42-day countdown towards being declared Ebola-free, following the discharge of the last patient treating Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD). Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced that 7 patients had recovered and all contacts had completed the mandatory 21-day monitoring period without developing symptoms.
If no new infections are reported during this period, Kenya is expected to be declared Ebola-free by December 23, 2026. The outbreak began on October 6, 2026, when a Kenyan national, who had traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was confirmed to have contracted BVD and subsequently died on October 5. Despite the initial case, Kenya successfully contained the virus, with no evidence of wider community transmission.
The 42-day countdown is a standard requirement based on Ebola's maximum incubation period, allowing health authorities to confirm the absence of any undetected transmission before declaring the country free of the disease.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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