EBOLA WATCH IN NUMBERS : KENYA WAS NEVER FAR FROM THE RISK

HOW KENYA WENT FROM PREPARING FOR A CASE TO CONFIRMING ONE
EBOLA TOTAL - worldwide
Cases : 8, 463 
Recoveries : 2, 232 
Deaths : 4, 082

EBOLA BY THE NUMBERS(Countries)
 DRC
Cases: 8, 463
Recoveries : 2,213
Deaths: 4, 080

France 
Cases: 1 
Recoveries: 1
Deaths : 0

 Uganda 
Cases: 20 
Recoveries : 18 
 Deaths: 2 

Kenya 
Cass: 1 
 Recoveries : 0
Deaths: 1

KENYA 
267
Samples tested by Kenya since May before the first confirmed positive case.
Contacts already identified in Kenya.
23
Passengers from the same flight being traced.
21 DAYS
The monitoring period for identified contacts after their last exposure. 

THE EBOLA TIMELINE
APRIL 24, 2026
The first known illness in the DRC outbreak
WHO says the earliest currently known suspected case was a health worker in Ituri who developed fever, bleeding, vomiting and severe weakness.
The patient later died in Bunia.
MAY 5
WHO alerted
WHO was notified of a high-mortality outbreak of an unknown illness in Mongbwalu, Ituri Province.
Health workers were among those dying.
MAY 15
Bundibugyo confirmed
Laboratory testing in Kinshasa confirmed Bundibugyo virus in samples from Ituri.
The DRC officially declared its 17th Ebola outbreak.
Uganda also confirmed an imported Bundibugyo case from the DRC. 
MAY 17
Global emergency declared
WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
At this point, Kenya had no confirmed cases, but the geographical threat was clear: the outbreak was occurring close to Uganda and South Sudan. 

 KENYA GOES ON ALERT
MAY 22
Kenya steps up preparedness
The Ministry of Health intensified surveillance, laboratory testing, border health services, case management, logistics and public awareness.
Kenya was preparing for a virus that had not yet crossed its border
MAY 28
US–KENYA EBOLA DEAL
The United States announced it intended to provide:
US$13.5 MILLION
approximately Sh1.7 billion
to support Kenya's Ebola preparedness.
The US also said it had committed US$112 million in bilateral assistance to the wider regional response
US MONEY TO KENYA PREPAREDNESS
$13.5m
Kenya Ebola preparedness
$112m
Regional bilateral assistance

NANYUKI: THE FACILITY THAT TRIGGERED A NATIONAL DEBATE
MAY 29
Court stops the plan
The High Court suspended plans to establish a US-backed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki.
The facility was intended to accommodate Americans exposed to Ebola.
The legal challenge was brought by the Law Society of Kenya and Katiba Institute, amid concerns about public participation, health safeguards and the risks to Kenya.

Also Read Ebola Explained

JUNE 1–2
PROTESTS ERUPT
Residents protested the planned facility in Nanyuki.
The protests became violent and deaths were reported.
The court extended its suspension of the project and ordered disclosure of agreements and protocols surrounding the arrangement. 

THE QUESTION AT THE CENTRE OF THE CONTROVERSY:
Was Kenya becoming a quarantine destination for Americans exposed to Ebola?
President William Ruto defended the arrangement as part of Kenya's health and security partnership with the United States.

THE COURT BATTLE
JUNE 22
HEALTH CS FOUND IN CONTEMPT
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale was found in contempt of court over the continued construction of the US-backed Ebola facility despite earlier court orders.
The High Court had ordered the government to halt construction while the legal challenge was being heard.

JUNE 23
CONSTRUCTION HALTED
Duale appeared before the High Court for mitigation.
The Ministry subsequently stated that construction and site activities had been halted and that the substantive petition remained pending.

THEN CAME THE AMERICANS
JULY
7 AMERICANS QUARANTINED IN KENYA
Seven American humanitarian workers who had been working in the DRC were reported to be undergoing 21-day quarantine in Kenya.
They had not been confirmed to have Ebola.
This distinction is important for the infographic:

KENYA BEFORE THE CONFIRMED CASE 
71,000+
Travellers screened by early June.
22
Ebola alerts investigated by early June  all negative at that stage.
59
Suspected cases tested in Kenya by June 6  all negative.
267
Samples tested nationally by the time Kenya confirmed its first case.
The Ministry also activated the National Ebola Incident Management System and strengthened surveillance at airports and land borders.

 THE GEOGRAPHY 
DRC → UGANDA → KENYA
South Sudan → Turkana → Kenya
KNOW YOUR EBOLA VIRUSES
6 SPECIES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED
1. Zaire ebolavirus
Causes Ebola virus disease. It is the species behind several major outbreaks, including the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic. A licensed vaccine exists against this species.
2. Sudan ebolavirus
Causes Sudan virus disease. Uganda experienced a major outbreak in 2022. There is currently no licensed vaccine specifically against Sudan virus. 
3. Bundibugyo ebolavirus
Causes Bundibugyo virus disease.
THIS IS THE VIRUS DRIVING THE CURRENT DRC OUTBREAK.
It was first identified in Uganda's Bundibugyo district in 2007. There is currently no licensed Bundibugyo-specific vaccine. 
4. Taï Forest ebolavirus
Causes Taï Forest virus disease. Human infections have been extremely rare.
5. Reston ebolavirus
Has been detected in non-human primates and has not been shown to cause human disease. 
6. Bombali ebolavirus
Identified in bats. It has not been established as a cause of human disease. 

 HIGH-RISK AFRICAN COUNTRIES
Africa CDC brought together the two affected countries and 11 high-risk countries in June:
 Angola
 Burundi
Central African Republic
 Republic of Congo
Ethiopia
 Kenya
 Rwanda
Somalia
 South Sudan
Tanzania
Zambia
The classification reflects the potential for cross-border spread, population movement, trade and regional connections. 

KENYA: THE 25 HIGH-RISK COUNTIES
Kenya's national risk assessment identified 25 counties requiring intensified preparedness.

 12 VERY HIGH-RISK COUNTIES
1.    Nairobi 
2.    Mombasa 
3.    Uasin Gishu 
4.    Busia 
5.    Kisumu 
6.    Bungoma 
7.    Trans Nzoia 
8.    Siaya 
9.    West Pokot 
10.    Turkana 
11.    Homa Bay 
12.    Migori 

  HIGH-RISK COUNTIES
1.    Vihiga 
2.    Kakamega 
3.    Nakuru 
4.    Kericho 
5.    Nandi 
6.    Kiambu 
7.    Machakos 
8.    Makueni 
9.    Kilifi 
10.    Taita Taveta 
11.    Isiolo 
12.    Elgeyo Marakwet 
13.    Garissa