The Ministry of Health has confirmed the death of a 65-year-old woman who was receiving treatment for Bundibugyo Ebola, the third confirmed case of the disease in Kenya. The Ministry announced the sad news in a press release issued in Nairobi on Friday evening, 23 October 2026.
The woman was a close family member of the first Ebola case in the country, a patient who has also died. She had been under quarantine after coming into contact with that patient. On 13 October, she started showing symptoms, and she was admitted to the infectious disease unit the same day. Doctors and nurses did everything they could to save her, but she passed away early this evening.
Her family has already been informed. The Ministry has sent its heartfelt condolences to them, to her friends, and to the wider community. It has also asked members of the public and the media to respect the family's privacy during this difficult time.
The Ministry says it is working closely with the family to arrange a safe and dignified burial. Trained health teams will carry out the burial following public health protocols, so that the family and the community are protected from further infection.
With this death, the country has now recorded two deaths out of nine confirmed cases. Seven patients are still getting treatment in two isolation facilities. The Ministry says all the cases are linked to one cluster of people who are known contacts of each other, and so far there is no evidence that the disease is spreading in the community. That is good news, but health officials are not taking any chances.
The Ministry has reminded Kenyans that Ebola is a serious disease that can be fatal, and that a patient's condition can change very quickly. Wanjiku, a mother of three in Nairobi, said the news made her worried, but she was glad the government was being open about what is happening. "We have to take this seriously, and we also must not panic," she said.
Members of the public are being asked to keep practising basic precautions. Avoid direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a sick person, and do not touch or handle the body of anyone who has died of a suspected illness. Wash your hands regularly with soap and clean water. If you develop fever, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, or any unexplained bleeding, seek medical help immediately.
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