NAIROBI – Kenya discharged its final Ebola patient on Wednesday, triggering a 42-day countdown before the country can officially be declared Ebola-free. The milestone came as the wider regional outbreak surpassed 11,000 reported infections since it began in May.
Kenya recorded nine Ebola cases in October after the initial patient arrived from Congo via Uganda. The virus subsequently spread to four family members and four healthcare workers.
The first patient and his mother died from the disease, while the remaining seven patients have made full recoveries. Health authorities identified 135 people who had come into contact with the initial case.
Kenya has now entered the 42-day monitoring period required for an Ebola-free declaration, provided no additional infections emerge.
However, infections elsewhere in the region continue to rise. Congo, the outbreak’s epicenter, has recorded 11,042 cases and 5,387 deaths, the government said Wednesday.
The virus has also reached Uganda and Nigeria through people who traveled from Congo.
Kenya’s Health Minister Aden Duale said Wednesday that the 42-day observation period is twice the virus’s longest incubation period and is scheduled to conclude on Dec. 23. He added that the government would maintain its prevention and surveillance measures.
The Ministry of Health had previously said the outbreak appeared to be contained because every confirmed case was connected to the first patient’s list of contacts. Officials said this showed there had been no community transmission.
Kenya has nevertheless faced travel restrictions since the outbreak began. Saudi Arabia announced an indefinite suspension of visas on Oct. 30, affecting hundreds of Kenyan workers traveling to the Gulf, including those seeking jobs in homes and hotels.
Kenya’s Health Ministry appealed to Saudi Arabia to lift the restrictions, emphasizing that the country’s first Ebola case had been imported and that all subsequent infections were traced to the initial patient’s contacts. Officials said every contact had been identified and monitored under established outbreak-control protocols.
The outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus and has been described as one of the most severe outbreaks on record.
Kenya also strengthened border controls, assigning a dedicated gate at the country’s main airport for travelers arriving from 10 countries that have reported Ebola cases or share borders with countries experiencing active outbreaks. New arrivals undergo thermal screening and must complete a health declaration detailing their travel history and current health status.
