Suspected Ebola Cases Reported in 9 Counties All Turn Negative – Duale

Suspected Ebola Cases Reported in 9 Counties All Turn Negative – Duale

Kenya’s health authorities have moved to reassure the public over the country’s preparedness against Ebola after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed that all suspected Ebola cases reported across nine counties have tested negative, even as concerns continue to grow over the regional outbreak and the proposed Ebola isolation facility in Laikipia.

Appearing before Parliament on Wednesday, June 3, Duale revealed that the country’s surveillance systems had investigated 22 Ebola-related alerts reported in different parts of Kenya. According to the Health CS, extensive testing and investigations found no confirmed Ebola infections among the reported cases.

“The national surveillance system has captured and investigated 22 suspected alerts from across the country. All of them have tested negative. These alerts were reported from Nairobi, Kiambu, Uasin Gishu, Nyeri, Nakuru, Nyamira, West Pokot, Kisumu and Bungoma,” Duale told lawmakers.

The announcement comes at a time when East African countries remain on high alert following Ebola outbreaks reported in neighbouring countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan. Health experts have warned that increased regional movement and cross-border trade could heighten the risk of disease transmission if preventive measures are not maintained.

Duale further disclosed that health officials had responded to three additional alerts within the last 24 hours. The suspected cases, reported in Nairobi, Uasin Gishu and Bungoma counties, were subjected to laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations before being cleared.

“In the last 24 hours, three alerts from Nairobi, Uasin Gishu and Bungoma were investigated and they were confirmed negative,” he stated.

The Cabinet Secretary emphasized that the Ministry of Health has significantly strengthened disease surveillance systems across the country. Rapid Response Teams have been deployed and remain on standby in all regions to ensure swift action whenever suspected cases are reported.

According to Duale, the government activated the National Ebola Incident Management System on May 20 to coordinate preparedness efforts at both national and county levels. The framework works alongside County Public Health Emergency Operations Centres, which have been directed to remain vigilant as regional outbreaks continue to evolve.

The ministry has also intensified screening activities at airports, border points and major transport corridors while issuing preparedness advisories to all 47 county governments.

Health officials maintain that the country’s surveillance network remains capable of detecting and responding to potential cases before they can spread into communities.

However, Duale’s appearance before Parliament also came against the backdrop of a heated national debate surrounding the proposed Ebola quarantine and bio-isolation facility at Laikipia Air Base.

The facility, which is expected to support the management of Ebola-exposed individuals, has sparked public protests and legal challenges, with critics expressing concerns about safety and transparency surrounding the project.

Addressing the concerns, Duale defended the government’s collaboration with international partners, arguing that disease preparedness should not be politicised.

“We must look at how to save a nation. We are more concerned about Americans coming but we are not concerned about the thousands of Kenyans, truck drivers, who pass every day. Let us not politicise the health of our citizens,” Duale said.

The CS noted that isolation centres are a standard public health measure designed to contain infectious diseases and protect the wider population from potential outbreaks.

Public health experts have similarly maintained that preparedness facilities play a critical role in managing emerging health threats, particularly in regions vulnerable to cross-border disease transmission.

Despite the reassurance from government officials, public concern remains high as the country closely monitors developments in neighbouring states. Authorities have urged Kenyans to remain calm, follow official health advisories and report any suspected symptoms through designated public health channels.

For now, the government’s message remains clear: despite 22 alerts recorded in nine counties, Kenya remains Ebola-free, with surveillance systems continuing to operate at the highest level of readiness to safeguard public health.

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Suspected Ebola Cases Reported in 9 Counties All Turn Negative – Duale