Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has declared Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus a formidable epidemic disease, paving the way for the government to enforce measures to prevent and control its spread in Kenya.
The declaration was published under Legal Notice No. 203 in Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 240 dated October 12, 2026, pursuant to Section 35 of the Public Health Act (Cap. 242).
In a related move, Duale gazetted Legal Notice No. 204, introducing the Public Health (Ebola Disease) Rules, 2026, which establish procedures for managing suspected cases, monitoring contacts, and coordinating the country’s response.
The regulations provide for screening at points of entry, isolation of suspected cases, quarantine of contacts, contact tracing, and surveillance. They also outline procedures for the safe handling and burial of bodies, designation of healthcare facilities, and public awareness campaigns.
The Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) has been designated as the lead technical institution in coordinating prevention, detection, and response activities.
The measures follow confirmation of an imported Bundibugyo Ebola case in Kenya on October 6, 2026. The patient, a Kenyan who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo and travelled through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi, later died at The Nairobi Hospital.
By October 12, authorities had identified 127 contacts, with 94 placed under quarantine. More than 665,000 travellers had also been screened at 26 points of entry, according to the World Health Organization.
The new rules are intended to strengthen surveillance, support early detection, and ensure a coordinated response should additional cases emerge.
The declaration does not, by itself, mean Kenya is experiencing a widespread Ebola outbreak. Instead, it provides a legal basis for implementing public health measures to contain the risk and prevent further transmission.
The regulations are expected to guide health authorities in containing the disease, protecting healthcare workers and members of the public, and responding promptly to suspected infections.