Kenya has declared itself free of Ebola after all seven patients who tested positive for the virus recovered and were discharged from hospital, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced.
Duale said on Wednesday that the final patient had been discharged, while all individuals who came into contact with the infected persons had completed their medical monitoring.
The CS said the recovery of the patients marked a major milestone in the country’s response to the outbreak, which was first detected on October 3.
“Today with the discharge of the last patient we can confirm and tell the world that 7 patients have recovered, and all contacts have completed their follow-up monitoring,” Duale said.
He noted that five patients were discharged on November 3, marking the first recoveries recorded in Kenya since the outbreak began. Another patient was released on November 6, followed by the final patient.
“On November 3rd, 5 patients were discharged. The first Kenyans ever to recover from this disease and on November 6, the 6th patient went home,” he said.
According to the Ministry of Health, all 135 people identified as contacts of the imported case completed the required 21-day monitoring period and were released from quarantine in batches.
The first group of 20 contacts completed monitoring and left quarantine on October 26, while another 46 were expected to be released on November 3.
Kenya confirmed nine Ebola infections during the outbreak, with two deaths reported.
Despite announcing the end of active cases, the government said it would maintain heightened surveillance to prevent further transmission.
Duale said health authorities would continue screening travellers at all 26 points of entry, where more than 760,000 people have already been screened.
Emergency operations centres and rapid response teams will also remain on standby across the country.
The Ministry maintained that Kenya remains open to travel, trade and public gatherings, with no restrictions imposed despite the outbreak. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
