Kenya Discharges Five Ebola Patients As 46 More Contacts Leave Quarantine
Kenya Discharges Five Ebola Patients, Releases Quarantined Contacts
Nairobi — Kenya has successfully discharged five patients who recovered from the recent Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus. The Ministry of Health announced Tuesday that these patients, who were treated at Kenyatta National Hospital and The Nairobi Hospital, had cleared the virus according to laboratory tests conducted prior to their release.
The five male patients were discharged on November 3, alongside 46 additional individuals who completed their monitoring period and were released from quarantine. The ministry emphasized that these contacts are in good health and have been reunited with their families. This follows the release of 20 contacts who were discharged on October 25.
According to the ministry, 52 remaining contacts are expected to finish their quarantine by November 11, completing a 21-day monitoring period since their last exposure to the virus. The ministry reassured the public that those completing this period without symptoms do not pose a risk for transmitting the disease.
In its statement, the ministry called upon families and communities to welcome the discharged patients and their contacts without discrimination and to provide them with the necessary psychosocial support. “We ask families, employers, neighbors, and communities to treat them with respect, dignity, and compassion and to shun stigma,” the statement said.
Despite recent recoveries, Kenya still reports nine confirmed Ebola cases, including two fatalities, resulting in a case fatality rate of 22.2 percent. Since October 19, no new infections have been reported, and all confirmed cases have been traced back to a single cluster related to the first imported case. The ministry confirmed that there is currently no community transmission of the virus.
Two patients remain in treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital and The Nairobi Hospital and will be discharged once they meet the established medical criteria.
The Ministry of Health cautioned that while the recent developments are encouraging, they do not indicate an end to the outbreak. Surveillance efforts will continue until conditions for declaring the outbreak over are met. A 42-day countdown will commence after the last patient has either recovered or been laid to rest, with the outbreak declared over only if no new cases arise during this period.
On the subject of international travel restrictions announced by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the ministry stated that it would continue to rely on scientific evidence and the International Health Regulations (2005) to guide its public health measures. The ministry has engaged with both countries through the appropriate channels and has requested public health justifications for their measures.
“Kenya remains open for business with no restrictions on travel, trade, or public gatherings,” the statement added.
Health officials urged anyone experiencing symptoms suggestive of Ebola to seek immediate medical attention, emphasizing that early treatment is vital for survival and in preventing further transmission of the virus.
