Kenya discharges five Ebola patients; 46 contacts leave quarantine, 52 remain

Kenya's Ministry of Health discharged five Ebola patients on 3 November after laboratory tests showed they had cleared the virus, and released 46 contacts who had completed 21 days of monitoring, according to a ministry statement carried by KBC, The Star and Kenyans.co.ke.

Two of the patients were treated at Kenyatta National Hospital and three at The Nairobi Hospital. All five are men and all had the Bundibugyo strain. Two patients remain in treatment, one at each hospital.

The ministry had announced on 30 October that the 46 contacts would go home on 3 November. The Star reported that this brings the total released from quarantine to 66, including 20 who went home earlier. The remaining 52 contacts are expected to leave by 11 November if they stay free of symptoms.

Kenya has recorded nine confirmed cases, including two deaths, a case fatality rate of 22.2 per cent. The ministry said no new case has been recorded since 19 October, that all nine cases are linked to a single chain of transmission, and that there is no community transmission.

The outbreak has not been declared over. Once the last patient recovers or is buried, a 42-day countdown starts, and the outbreak is declared over only if no new case appears in that time. Surveillance continues.

In a statement published on 3 November, the ministry said Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale held a high-level engagement with a UNICEF delegation to review the response. It listed surveillance at 26 designated points of entry, training for more than 4,900 health workers, 349 rapid response teams on standby and five designated testing laboratories, plus mobile laboratory capacity. UNICEF has supplied more than 43,000 items of protective equipment worth US$462,994.06, within a total supply contribution of US$716,625.26.

The ministry asked families, employers and communities to receive the discharged patients with dignity and compassion and to avoid stigma and discrimination.

On travel, the ministry acknowledged measures recently announced by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait concerning travel involving Kenya. Citizen Digital reported that Saudi Arabia has suspended travel by its citizens to Kenya and halted visa issuance to travellers from Kenya. Saudi Arabia has also barred anyone who was in Kenya in the previous 21 days, The Star reported on 31 October. In a diplomatic note dated 30 October, Kenya's foreign ministry asked Riyadh to review and lift the measures, calling them "disproportionate and not supported by scientific health evidence". Kenya has shared outbreak data through International Health Regulations channels and asked for the public health justification. Director General for Health Patrick Amoth said: "Kenya remains open for business, with no restrictions on travel, trade or public gatherings."

Anyone with Ebola-like symptoms can call the toll-free number 719, dial *719# or send a message to the WhatsApp number 0700 719 719.