Kenya discharges last Ebola patient in key milestone to being declared free of the virus

Kenya has discharged its last Ebola patient - the seventh to recover from the virus - marking a major milestone in efforts to contain the disease in the East African nation, which now begins a 42-day countdown to officially being declared Ebola-free.

It had confirmed its first ever case of Ebola early in October when a Kenyan businessman died within days of arriving in the capital, Nairobi.

He had contracted the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 5,000 people have died in an ongoing outbreak that began in May. His mother also subsequently died.

Kenya's health minister said 135 identified contacts of the infected patients had also completed their 21 days in isolation.

"Today with the discharge of the last patient we can confirm and tell the world that seven patients have recovered - and all contacts have completed their follow-up monitoring," Aden Duale said.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) described it as an important achievement in the regional response to the outbreak.

"This is an encouraging moment for Kenya and for Africa. We must sustain surveillance and vigilance until the outbreak is officially declared over," Africa CDC chief Jean Kaseya posted on X.

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Kenya has reported no new confirmed cases since 20 October.

All the Kenyan cases were linked to the man who had travelled from DR Congo through Uganda, with health officials reporting no evidence of wider community transmission.

Those who have recovered following treatment included four healthcare workers.

Five patients were discharged on 3 November, followed by a sixth three days later, before the final patient was cleared on Wednesday.

Under World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, 42 days must pass after the last patient tests negative and is discharged, or the last Ebola victim is safely buried, before an outbreak can be declared over.

The Ebola virus spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood or vomit. The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days, meaning those exposed to the virus may not become ill for several weeks.

Duale said the government would maintain heightened surveillance at border crossings, airports, health facilities and communities throughout the countdown.

Emergency response teams will remain on alert across the country, while the health authorities will continue monitoring travellers arriving from affected countries.

Kenyans returning from Ebola-affected areas are required to complete electronic health declarations before travelling, undergo screening on arrival and spend 21 days in quarantine under the supervision of health teams.

The minister also urged countries that had imposed travel and visa restrictions to reconsider them - adding that Kenya had no intention of serving as a quarantine centre for another country.

In May, a Kenyan court suspended US plans to open an Ebola quarantine facility for American citizens.

Kenya has maintained that there is no need to restrict domestic travel, trade or public gatherings.

The outbreak has nevertheless disrupted international travel, with some Gulf countries introducing restrictions affecting travellers from Kenya and other African countries.

Saudi Arabia stopped issuing visas to Kenyan nationals in late October, prompting concerns among those seeking employment there.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that it is lifting its suspension on issuing new visas to Ugandan nationals, easing restrictions introduced in June.

But Ugandans will have to spend at least 21 days outside of Uganda before being allowed to travel to the UAE.

The UAE is also allowing certain students, diplomatic passport holders and Ugandan embassy employees to enter under approved health procedures.

Uganda, which shares a long and busy border with DR Congo, was among the countries first affected but declared its own Ebola outbreak over on 27 August.

The current outbreak in DR Congo has been caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which is relatively rare, with no approved vaccine or treatment - though trials are under way.

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