The Ministry of Health has criticised measures taken by Saudi Arabia in response to Kenya’s Ebola outbreak, describing them as excessive and unsupported by the country’s current epidemiological situation.

In a press statement issued on Saturday, October 31, 2026, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale maintained that Kenya had contained the outbreak within a single cluster, with no evidence of community transmission.

Duale said all 135 contacts linked to the index case had been identified and traced, representing 100 per cent of the contacts associated with the case. Of these, 118 were placed under quarantine as part of the containment measures.

According to the ministry, all eight confirmed cases were linked to the initial patient, involving four healthcare workers and four close family members.

Kenya has not reported any new Ebola case since October 19, 2026, with the government maintaining that the disease has not spread beyond the identified cluster.

The ministry confirmed that the country had recorded two deaths, including the index patient, while seven others remained under medical care.

Duale further disclosed that five of the seven patients had returned their first negative Ebola test results after completing treatment. They were awaiting a second test scheduled for Monday, November 2.

The government expressed optimism that the five patients would be discharged on Tuesday, November 3, alongside 46 additional contacts who remained under quarantine but had not developed symptoms.

The 46 are in addition to 20 contacts who had already completed quarantine and been released.

The Health CS said the developments demonstrated that Kenya’s response measures were yielding results, adding that the government expected further progress in containing the outbreak.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs will continue engaging Saudi Arabia over the measures imposed in response to the outbreak.

Duale called on the international community to support Kenya’s response through cooperation rather than condemnation, travel restrictions or isolation, saying the country had demonstrated transparency in managing the outbreak.