The government has assured Kenyans that no Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case has been reported in the country, as health authorities intensify preparedness measures following ongoing outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

In a statement issued on Thursday, June 25, 2026, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said Kenya remains at high risk of receiving an imported Ebola case due to its position as a major regional transport and travel hub with strong links to neighbouring countries.

“First and foremost, I wish to assure all Kenyans that Kenya has not reported any confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease,” Duale said.

He noted that despite the absence of confirmed cases, the government has adopted proactive measures to ensure the country is fully prepared should an imported case be detected.

Lessons learnt from previous outbreaks

Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that can spread rapidly if not identified and contained early. According to the CS, lessons from previous outbreaks across Africa have demonstrated the importance of early preparedness in protecting lives, health systems and economies.

As part of the response, the Ministry of Health, through the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI), activated the national Ebola Incident Management System on May 20, 2026.

Preparedness measures currently underway include enhanced screening of travellers arriving from affected countries through airports and land border points, strengthened disease surveillance and rapid response systems in counties, expansion of laboratory testing capacity, identification and preparation of isolation and treatment facilities, and training of healthcare workers.

The ministry has also stockpiled personal protective equipment (PPE) and intensified public awareness campaigns to improve risk communication.

Screened Kenyans

Duale revealed that Kenya has so far screened more than 140,000 travellers arriving from affected areas and investigated over 100 alerts, all of which tested negative for Ebola.

“As of today, Kenya has screened more than 140,000 travellers arriving from affected areas and investigated over 100 alerts, all of which have tested negative for Ebola,” he said.

The CS also addressed concerns raised by members of the public regarding the establishment of quarantine and isolation facilities, saying their existence should not be interpreted to mean that Kenya has detected Ebola cases.

He explained that isolation and quarantine centres are standard public health preparedness measures designed to contain suspected infections quickly and prevent transmission if a case is detected.

“Just as a country prepares fire engines before a fire occurs, public health authorities must prepare isolation and quarantine facilities before an outbreak occurs,” Duale said.

The government has also advised Kenyans to avoid non-essential travel to affected areas in DRC and Uganda and to rely only on official Ministry of Health communication channels for information.

Duale called on community leaders, religious organizations, healthcare workers, transport operators, the media and the public to support ongoing 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. “Together, let’s keep Kenya safe.”