Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has confirmed that Kenya has no Ebola virus outbreak following concerns about potential cases.
During a national address on Friday, May 22, Duale explained that three individuals with recent travel history from the Democratic Republic of Congo were isolated and tested for the virus, with all results proving negative.
Duale further stated that four additional Kenyans who had contact with the visitors were also isolated and tested negative for the virus.
“Kenya has not recorded any confirmed Ebola cases. Three people who recently traveled from the DRC sought medical attention for unrelated conditions, were isolated, tested, and all results came back negative,” he confirmed.
“Four other individuals who had accompanied them to the hospital were also tested and found negative,” he added.
The clarification followed viral reports claiming Uasin Gishu county had a confirmed Ebola case, with a fake letter allegedly from the county government.
Duale warned against spreading false information, emphasizing that Ebola is a national concern that should not be trivialized through fake news.
“The public is urged to rely only on official information from the Ministry of Health, KNPHI, WHO, and Africa CDC,” he advised.
Simultaneously, Duale disclosed 22 counties identified as high risk for potential Ebola transmission.
The counties designated as high-risk by the ministry included Nairobi, Kericho, Busia, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, Mombasa, and Turkana, among others.
He also mentioned that the ministry had implemented intensive measures in collaboration with county governments to prevent the virus from entering Kenya.
The virus outbreak, initially reported in DRC, has spread to Uganda and South Sudan, with these countries considered high-risk due to their proximity to Uganda.
Since the outbreak began, over 500 cases have been reported in DRC and Uganda, resulting in more than 130 deaths, even as health organizations work on developing a potential vaccine.