Five Ebola patients discharged after recovering from virus

The Health Ministry discharged five patients and released 46 contacts from quarantine on November 3. Health DG Patrick Amoth confirmed no new cases since October 19 and no community transmission.

Health Director General Patrick Amoth during a meeting to review Kenya’s response at Afya House on Novenber 3, 2026. PHOTO | COURTESY

The Ministry of Health has announced that five patients, who initially tested positive for the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, have recovered and were discharged on Tuesday, November 3.

In a statement on Tuesday, Health Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth revealed that the five patients, comprising two from Kenyatta National Hospital and three from The Nairobi Hospital, were cleared of the virus after laboratory tests confirmed that they did not exhibit any symptoms attributed to the disease.

Further, 46 more contacts who completed their monitoring were also released from quarantine and reunited with their families.

Dr. Amoth said the remaining 52 contacts are expected to be released by November 11, 2026, upon completing 21 days since their last exposure.

He assured the public that every patient and contact goes home after meeting strict public health criteria and receiving psychosocial support from health experts.

"Their recovery is a tribute to the skill and dedication of our health workers," the Health DG said in the statement.

"Contacts who complete this quarantine period without developing any symptoms cannot transmit the disease and pose no risk to anyone."

He added that no new case has been recorded since October 19, 2026, citing that the nine confirmed cases were linked to patient zero.

While expressing confidence that there is no community transmission of the disease, the Health DG confirmed that Kenya would begin a 42-day countdown to declare the outbreak over once the final patient has recovered.

"Until then, heightened surveillance continues without pause," he said.

On the issue of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's decision to suspend travel by its citizens to Kenya and halt visa issuance to travellers from the country, he noted that such measures ought to be backed by scientific evidence of a widespread outbreak.

Dr. Amoth stated that the government had shared Kenya's data with Saudi Arabia and sought justification for the 'extreme' measures in line with the International Health Regulations (2005).

"Kenya remains open for business, with no restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings," he stated.

The statement comes hours after Health CS Aden Duale confirmed that 135 people who came into contact with patient zero had been traced.

He noted that an inter-agency approach has maintained a heightened response to prevent the spread of the virus.

"We released 20 last Friday, we were left with 98, and we will release some today...Kenya should be globally appreciated and not condemned," he said while appearing before a delegated legislation committee on Ebola regulations.