NAIROBI, Kenya – Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has assured Kenyans and the international community that the country remains safe for travel, tourism and trade after authorities accounted for 66 people who may have come into contact with the first confirmed imported Ebola patient, who has since died.
The contacts have been quarantined at the National Police Service Hospital in Nairobi as the government intensifies surveillance, testing and contact tracing to prevent further transmission.
Speaking during a briefing on Thursday, Duale said health officials had tested 268 samples as response teams worked to contain the risk and reassure international partners.
“57 contacts have been identified and will keep on increasing, and as of this morning, 66 of those contacts have been accounted for at our National Police Service Hospital, and the number is increasing,” Duale said.
Since May, authorities have screened 652,000 travellers and trained 4,971 healthcare workers in Ebola preparedness and response.
Jambojet Passenger Tracing Underway
The Ministry of Health is also tracing passengers who may have travelled aboard a Jambojet aircraft used by the patient.
Duale said the airline had provided details of 23 passengers and four crew members but had been asked to submit information on other flights operated by the same aircraft to support further tracing.
The exercise forms part of broader efforts to identify people who may have been exposed and ensure they receive appropriate monitoring.
Duale said preparedness and response systems had been activated to detect suspected cases quickly and limit the risk of further infections.
Duale Warns Against Travel Restrictions
The CS appealed to foreign governments, diplomats, tourists and investors to rely on verified epidemiological information when making decisions about Kenya.
“I want to assure our partners and the international community that Kenya remains safe, open and vigilant,” he said.
Duale cautioned that disproportionate travel and trade restrictions could disrupt economic activity without delivering additional public health benefits.
“Disproportionate restrictions on travel and trade can cause significant social and economic disruption without necessarily providing additional public health protection,” he said.
He urged airlines to continue operating, tourists to visit the country and businesses to maintain normal activities as health authorities continue monitoring the situation.
The government, he added, would maintain transparency and share verified updates with the public, neighbouring countries and international partners.
Surveillance Intensified Across 24 Counties
Kenya’s Ebola response includes enhanced screening at 15 points of entry, surveillance in 24 counties and continued laboratory testing.
The training of nearly 5,000 healthcare workers is also intended to strengthen the country’s capacity to identify, isolate and manage suspected cases.
Authorities are continuing to trace contacts and gather passenger information as they work to establish whether anyone else may have been exposed.
The Ministry of Health has urged the public to remain vigilant, avoid spreading unverified information and follow official health guidance as investigations continue.
