Kenya’s Ministry of Health has labelled Saudi Arabia’s response to the Ebola outbreak as excessive and not aligned with the country’s current epidemiological data.

In a press statement on 31 October 2026, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the outbreak is confined to a single cluster with no evidence of community transmission.

All 135 contacts linked to the index case have been identified and traced, representing 100 % of known contacts, with 118 placed under quarantine as part of containment.

The ministry reports eight confirmed cases, all directly connected to the initial patient – four health workers and four family members – and no new cases since 19 October 2026.

Two deaths have been recorded, including the index patient, while seven patients remain in care; five have already tested negative once and await a second test on 2 November.

The health minister expects discharge of the five recovering patients on 3 November, together with 46 contacts still under quarantine who have shown no symptoms, adding to 20 contacts already released.

Duale urged the international community to support Kenya’s transparent response rather than impose travel bans, and said the Foreign Ministry will keep diplomatic engagement with Saudi Arabia ongoing.