IRC Expands Ebola Response in Kenya Following New Cases

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) announced on October 19, 2026, that it is scaling up its Ebola response efforts in Kenya after the country confirmed seven additional cases following its first detected case on October 6.

Kenya's first recorded case involved a citizen who traveled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) through Uganda before dying in Nairobi. Authorities launched immediate tracing of family members, health personnel, and fellow passengers who had contact with the individual. According to the IRC, early government measures have successfully traced and quarantined more than 99% of identified contacts.

The humanitarian organization warned that the risk remains high due to an ongoing outbreak in the DRC, where more than 9,000 cases have been reported. The IRC emphasized the need for continued resources to manage border screening, contact tracing, and health worker training to prevent further cross-border transmission.

As a member of Kenya's National Taskforce on Ebola, the IRC is collaborating with the Ministry of Health across 13 high-risk counties and at key entry points, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The organization's support includes expanding health screenings at transit corridors, distributing protective supplies such as gloves and masks, conducting mass communication campaigns, and training frontline medical staff.

The IRC also highlighted operational challenges in the DRC, noting that distrust toward response efforts is increasing. The group called for additional funding to expand door-to-door community engagement and support local healthcare infrastructure in affected provinces such as Ituri and North Kivu.

Source