NAIROBI, Kenya — The government has intensified national preparedness measures against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) amid ongoing outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, assuring Kenyans that no confirmed case has been reported in the country.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said Kenya remains at heightened risk of an imported Ebola case because of its position as a regional transport and travel hub, prompting authorities to strengthen surveillance and emergency response systems across the country.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Duale said the Ministry of Health activated the national Ebola Incident Management System on May 20, 2026, through the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) to coordinate preparedness efforts.
“First and foremost, I wish to assure all Kenyans that Kenya has not reported any confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease,” Duale said.
“However, because Kenya is a major regional transport and travel hub, with strong connections to neighbouring countries, we remain at high risk of receiving an imported case.”
The CS said health authorities have implemented a series of preventive measures, including enhanced screening of travellers arriving from affected countries through airports and land border points, strengthened disease surveillance systems, expansion of laboratory testing capacity, and preparation of isolation and treatment facilities.
The government has also intensified training for healthcare workers, distributed personal protective equipment (PPE), and rolled out public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about Ebola prevention and response.
According to the Ministry of Health, more than 140,000 travellers arriving from affected areas have been screened, while over 100 alerts have been investigated. All suspected cases tested negative for Ebola.
Duale sought to address public concerns regarding the establishment of quarantine and isolation facilities, clarifying that the facilities are precautionary measures designed to enhance preparedness rather than evidence of an outbreak in Kenya.
“Just as a country prepares fire engines before a fire occurs, public health authorities must prepare isolation and quarantine facilities before an outbreak occurs,” he said.
“These facilities enable health authorities to quickly contain any suspected case, protect healthcare workers and prevent further spread into the community should a case be detected.”
The Cabinet Secretary warned that Ebola remains a severe and often fatal disease capable of spreading rapidly if not identified and contained early.
He noted that previous Ebola outbreaks across Africa had resulted in significant economic losses due to disruptions in travel, trade, tourism and investment, making early preparedness essential for protecting both lives and livelihoods.
The Ministry urged Kenyans to remain calm but vigilant and advised the public to observe preventive measures, including regular handwashing, avoiding contact with bodily fluids of sick individuals, refraining from handling sick or dead wild animals, and seeking immediate medical attention if symptoms emerge.
Symptoms of Ebola include fever, severe headache, sore throat, extreme fatigue, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and unexplained bleeding.
The Ministry also advised against non-essential travel to affected areas in DRC and Uganda and urged citizens to rely only on official government communication channels for information.
Duale called on community leaders, healthcare workers, religious organisations, transport operators and the media to support national preparedness efforts.
“The Government remains fully committed to protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of all Kenyans. We will continue to provide timely updates as the situation evolves,” he said.
Health officials say continued vigilance will be critical as neighbouring countries work to contain the outbreaks.