Kenya expects every Ebola contact still under monitoring to finish quarantine by November 11. Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muthoni announced the date at the ninth Ebola taskforce meeting on October 30, The Star reported. She said the country had gone 10 days without a new infection.
"Kenya has so far recorded nine cases and two deaths, with identified contacts still under isolation, quarantine and surveillance," Muthoni said. Contacts who stay well are released in stages after 21 days without symptoms. The Ministry of Health released the first 20 contacts last week. The other 98 were due to go home in four groups from November 3, subject to medical checks.
Patients are also recovering. Kenyans.co.ke reported on Tuesday that the ministry had confirmed five Ebola patients had recovered and been discharged. The Star had earlier reported that seven patients were being treated in designated facilities. All nine infections are linked to the first imported case. There is no evidence of wider community transmission.
Director General for Health Patrick Amoth said the released contacts posed no risk to their families or neighbours. He asked communities to welcome them home. He also warned that the work was not finished. "The outbreak will be declared over only after 42 days," he said.
Under World Health Organization rules, the 42-day count starts only after the last patient tests negative twice and is discharged. The government has not said when that will happen. The Star calculated that if the last patient leaves hospital on November 11, the count would end on December 23. It stressed that this is not an official date.
Kenya confirmed its first Ebola case on October 6. The patient, a man who had travelled from DR Congo through Uganda, had the Bundibugyo strain and died on October 5. The last confirmed case was reported on October 20. Africa Check found that social media posts claiming Health CS Aden Duale had announced a nationwide lockdown were false. The ministry has ruled out restrictions on travel, trade and public gatherings.
Surveillance continues at airports, other entry points and health facilities. The public can report suspected cases on the toll-free number 719. Across Africa, the outbreak keeps growing. Premium Times reported that Africa CDC warned the continent is "not winning" as cases passed 10,000. Health ministers agreed to keep borders open and strengthen surveillance.