Kenya: Kenya Begins 42-Day Countdown to Ebola-Free Status After Last Patient Is Discharged
[Independent (Kampala)] Nairobi -- Kenya has begun a 42-day countdown toward being declared free of Ebola after its last patient was discharged from hospital and 11 people were released from quarantine.
Kenya has initiated a 42-day countdown towards being declared Ebola-free following the discharge of its last patient. The period commenced on Thursday, the day after the patient was released from the hospital. If no new cases are reported, Kenya may receive the declaration by December 23, announced Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
The Ebola virus, known as Bundibugyo virus disease, has an incubation period of up to 42 days. Kenya detected its first case on October 6, when a Kenyan man traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Uganda and then to Nairobi. Unfortunately, the man died at a Nairobi hospital. Contact tracing identified 135 people who had close contact with him in Kenya and abroad, of which eight tested positive, including four family members and four health workers.
Despite the outbreak, the virus did not spread beyond this cluster. Kenya reported a total of nine cases, with seven patients recovering and two succumbing to the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) commended Kenya for this milestone but emphasized the need for continued vigilance, including ongoing disease surveillance, patient screening, laboratory capacity enhancement, and readiness to respond to any new cases.
Duale stressed that rapid-response teams will remain vigilant, and every potential case will be investigated. Survivors will continue to receive follow-up care and support.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
