Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced December 23, 2026, as the anticipated date for Kenya to be declared Ebola-free, following the discharge of the country’s last patient and the release of the final contacts from monitoring.
The country begins a mandatory 42-day countdown on Thursday, November 12, which will determine whether the outbreak can officially be declared over, provided no new infection is reported.
In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, Duale said Kenya had recorded nine confirmed cases since detecting its first imported infection on October 6, 2026.
“Since confirming the first imported case on 6th October 2026, Kenya has recorded nine confirmed cases, all contained within a single cluster, with no community transmission,” he stated.
The CS said the final 11 contacts had completed their 21-day monitoring period in good health, marking another milestone in the country’s response.
“Through effective surveillance and contact tracing, all 135 contacts linked to the index case were successfully traced and monitored,” Duale said.
The 42-day countdown is required before health authorities can declare the outbreak over. The anticipated December 23 date is therefore dependent on Kenya recording no new cases throughout the period.
Duale attributed the progress to coordination between national and county governments, health facilities, development partners and the public.
“The response was strengthened by the declaration of Ebola as a formidable epidemic disease and the gazettement of the Public Health (Ebola Disease) Rules, which provided the necessary legal framework for containment efforts,” he stated.
The CS named the World Health Organisation, Africa CDC, IGAD and the governments of the United States and India among the partners who supported the response.
Despite the discharge of the final patient, Duale said surveillance and screening would continue across the country during the countdown.
“As we enter the countdown, surveillance, screening at all points of entry, rapid response and prompt investigation of suspected cases will continue across the country,” he said.
He added that response teams would remain on alert, while follow-up care and support for survivors would be sustained.
The Health CS also addressed travel and visa restrictions imposed on Kenya by some jurisdictions following the Ebola outbreak.
He maintained that the country remained open to international movement and economic activities, with no restrictions on travel, tourism, trade or public gatherings.
“Kenya remains open for business, tourism, trade and travel, with no restrictions on movement or public gatherings,” Duale stated.
He said the government had called on jurisdictions that imposed travel and visa restrictions on Kenya to review and lift the measures, arguing that the country’s transparent reporting and compliance with international health regulations should not be penalised.
Duale further clarified that Kenya would not act as a quarantine centre for travellers who meet the entry requirements of other countries.
He also said the Ministry of Health would not issue quarantine or Ebola-free certificates for travel purposes where such documents were not required under the International Health Regulations.
He directed members of the public to use the toll-free 719 line for assistance.
The CS also committed the government to accounting publicly for resources received during the outbreak response.
“Finally, we reaffirmed our commitment to transparency and accountability, including the public disclosure and accounting of all resources and support received from the Government and development partners throughout the response,” he stated.
Duale made the remarks following a media briefing attended by senior Ministry of Health officials, representatives of international health organisations and development partners.
The December 23 date remains conditional on the country completing the full 42-day countdown without recording another confirmed Ebola case.
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