Ebola contact tracing linked to Kenya’s first confirmed case has now reached all 135 people identified by health authorities, according to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
The milestone marks a major step in Kenya’s response to the imported Bundibugyo Ebola case first confirmed in early October.
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Ebola contacts now accounted for
The Ministry of Health says all 135 contacts connected to the first patient have been traced both within Kenya and abroad.
Relevant health authorities outside the country were also notified in line with international health regulations.
Each identified contact is being monitored for 21 days from the date of their last known exposure.
No new transmission linked to quarantine centers
Health officials say the confirmed infections detected so far were linked to close contact with the first patient before quarantine measures were put in place.
The ministry says there is no evidence that transmission occurred inside quarantine facilities, where infection-control measures were strengthened after the first case was confirmed.
That finding has given authorities greater confidence that the chain of transmission can be contained if monitoring continues without interruption.
Ebola response remains on high alert
Kenya has maintained enhanced surveillance since the first case was confirmed on October 6.
The patient had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo and later died in Nairobi after testing positive for Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease.
Since then, health authorities have expanded screening, testing and isolation capacity across several facilities.
WHO reported that by October 22, more than 709,000 travellers had been screened in Kenya and hundreds of samples had been tested across five laboratories.
Government eyes end of outbreak
Duale has previously said Kenya could be declared free of Ebola once 42 days pass without a new case, in line with the international timeline used to determine the end of an outbreak.
He said aggressive contact tracing and regular testing had improved the country’s chances of containing the virus.
Authorities are expected to continue monitoring contacts and screening travellers until the full observation period is completed.
