Kenya has officially begun a 42-day countdown toward being declared Ebola-free after discharging its last patient. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the milestone on Wednesday, confirming the final patient had completed recovery at a Nairobi hospital. This discharge triggers the final containment phase, where the Ministry of Health monitors for new infections. If no additional cases emerge by December 23, the country will be certified free of the virus. Africanews and AllAfrica reported the announcement.
The outbreak involved nine confirmed cases of the Bundibugyo strain, all linked to a single index patient who traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda. The Ministry of Health stated seven patients recovered while two died. All infections were traced to family members and healthcare workers interacting with the initial case. Authorities identified and monitored 135 contacts, ensuring no community transmission occurred. AllAfrica cited World Health Organisation data showing the last confirmed infection was reported on October 19.
The 42-day period represents two consecutive 21-day incubation windows, the maximum time for symptoms to appear after exposure. Duale stated this waiting period ensures the outbreak is fully contained. The Ministry of Health emphasized that strengthened surveillance prevented the virus from spreading beyond the initial cluster. This success contrasts with the ongoing crisis in the DRC, where the outbreak has claimed over 5,300 lives since May. France 24 reported the DRC has recorded 11,042 infections, making it the deadliest outbreak in the country's history.
Despite containment success, the outbreak caused regional travel disruptions. Saudi Arabia suspended visas for Kenyan workers on October 30, citing Ebola risk. The Ministry of Health urged Riyadh to reconsider, arguing Kenya’s cases were imported and fully traced. The government also tightened border controls, designating specific airport gates for passengers from affected nations. These measures affected hundreds of domestic and hotel workers traveling to the Gulf for employment.
The discharge reignited political debate regarding past quarantine policies. Former Chief Justice David Maraga accused President William Ruto of hypocrisy, referencing the government's previous defense of a proposed US-linked isolation facility in Laikipia. Maraga criticized the state's stance, noting police killed protesters during June demonstrations against the facility. He argued the current refusal to host quarantine centers contradicts earlier positions. The Law Society of Kenya criticized the Independent Policing Oversight Authority for slow investigations into the June deaths.