The Ministry of Health has confirmed four new Ebola cases, including a relative of the first patient and three health workers, bringing the total to seven. The government says the risk to the public remains low.
Kenya has confirmed four new cases of Ebola, raising the total number of confirmed infections to seven, including the first patient who died.
The Ministry of Health announced the new cases on Saturday, October 17, saying all four patients had developed fever before testing positive for the virus. They are a close male relative of the deceased patient and three health workers who attended to him in hospital.
"This brings the total number of confirmed cases to seven (7), including the deceased first case," the Ministry said in a statement signed by Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth.
According to the Ministry, the male relative had been in quarantine since October 6. The three health workers, two men and one woman aged 29, 35 and 32, had been in quarantine since October 9.
They attended to the first patient between October 3 and 4 before being placed under quarantine as part of efforts to contain the outbreak.
The four tested positive at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratory. Kenya uses a two-laboratory process in which samples are tested at both facilities to verify positive results. The patients are receiving supportive care at designated treatment facilities.
Don Sami Live has also learnt that the second and third patients are stable and responding well to supportive treatment.
Health authorities said early detection was possible because all four patients were already in quarantine, which helped limit the risk of further transmission to their families and the wider public.
"The Ministry wishes to reassure Kenyans that the risk to the general public remains low as there is no evidence of community transmission of the disease," Amoth said.
The government said Kenya remains open for business, with no restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings.