Kenya’s Ministry of Health has dismissed claims of a nationwide lockdown amid the ongoing Ebola outbreak, assuring the public that the country remains open, with no restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings.
In a public advisory dated October 17, 2026, the Ministry urged Kenyans to remain calm, stay vigilant and rely on official updates as health authorities intensify efforts to contain the outbreak.
“Kenya remains open, with no restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings. Remain calm, stay vigilant and follow official Ministry of Health updates,” Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth said.
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The clarification comes as Kenya’s confirmed Ebola infections rise to eight following the identification of one additional case on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
Speaking to Citizen TV, Amoth said the Ministry of Health tested 38 people on Sunday, with one testing positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.
The newly confirmed patient is a 49-year-old male patient attendant who developed fever, headache and muscle pain. According to Amoth, the patient has since been isolated and is being prepared to receive treatment.
The latest infection follows the confirmation of four additional cases on Saturday, October 17, bringing the total to seven at the time. Those cases included a close male relative of the first patient and three healthcare workers who had attended to him in hospital.
The Ministry reported that all four patients were already in quarantine when they tested positive, allowing health officials to identify and isolate them as part of ongoing containment efforts.
Kenya’s first Ebola patient, a man who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), arrived in Nairobi on October 3, 2026. He was reported to have died on the night of October 5 while receiving treatment at Nairobi Hospital, with the first confirmed case announced on October 6.
Despite the rising number of infections, the Ministry has maintained that the risk of community transmission remains low, citing quarantine and contact-tracing measures implemented by health authorities.
Amoth explained that the newly confirmed patients developed symptoms several days after being placed under quarantine, reducing the likelihood of exposing other people while in the community.
The Health Director General has also urged Kenyans to avoid spreading misinformation about the outbreak, warning that public distrust and failure to follow health guidance could undermine containment efforts.
He cited previous Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where resistance to public health measures and the handling of deceased patients contributed to further transmission. He contrasted this with Uganda’s response, which he said demonstrated the importance of early intervention and cooperation with health authorities.
Kenya has also received support from international partners, including the World Health Organization, the United States government and AMREF, as it strengthens its preparedness and response measures.
According to Amoth, the government developed a contingency plan estimated at approximately US$20 million over three to six months. He further stated that the United States government had committed US$14.5 million through implementing partners to support the response.
Questions surrounding possible restrictions emerged following earlier measures announced by the government after the outbreak was detected.
On October 7, Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni announced the suspension of hotel-based meetings, seminars and conferences, with exceptions requiring prior approval. The Ministry later clarified that the measure applied to staff under the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards.
The clarification on the scope of the restrictions has been important in addressing speculation that the government was preparing to impose a nationwide lockdown.
Meanwhile, health authorities continue to monitor contacts, test suspected cases and provide treatment to confirmed patients. Amoth said the patients receiving monoclonal antibody treatment had been responding well.
The Ministry has urged the public to remain alert, follow official health advisories and cooperate with medical teams as investigations and containment measures continue.
With eight confirmed infections reported as of October 18, the government’s immediate priority remains preventing further transmission while ensuring that normal travel, trade and public activities continue.
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