Kenya Bans Final Rites for Ebola’s Dead in New Rule

Washing or embalming the bodies of people who die of Ebola in Kenya has been prohibited under new public health regulations aimed at preventing the spread of the deadly virus.

The rules also prohibit undressing or redressing the bodies for funeral purposes and require sealed body bags to remain closed, except during examinations or specimen collection authorised by law and conducted under appropriate infection prevention measures.

The Public Health (Ebola Disease) Rules, 2026, published on Monday evening, also ban the repatriation of Kenyans who die of Ebola abroad, requiring their bodies to be buried in the countries where they die.

Bodies of Kenyans who die of Ebola abroad will not be brought into the country for burial.

The Ministry of Health said Ebola victims must be buried where they die to prevent importation of the virus. 

The ban is contained in the Public Health (Ebola Disease) Rules, 2026, published on Monday evening.

The rules follow Kenya's first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease, involving a Kenyan citizen who travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi.

“A person shall not transfer or repatriate the body of a person who has died of Ebola disease outside Kenya," Rule 21 that deals with the transportation and repatriation of bodies states.

However, if a person dies in Kenya, their body may be transported to another part of the country for burial under strict infection, prevention and control measures.

“The body shall be transported in a suitable conveyance under arrangements approved by the medical officer of health and in accordance with infection prevention and control measures,” the rules say.

The rules require a medical officer to arrange burial without undue delay at a suitable site, subject to applicable laws on death registration, burial permits and investigations into the cause of death.

The regulations remain in force for twelve months, unless revoked by the health Cabinet Secretary.

Contacts of Ebola patients will be quarantined for 21 days from their last relevant exposure and monitored daily for symptoms.

The 21-day period reflects the World Health Organisation's guidance that Ebola symptoms can develop between two and 21 days after infection.

However, the ministry said travellers in Kenya may not be detained for the full 21 days if they test negative twice.

“A contact whose test results indicate negative after two diagnostic tests, undertaken in accordance with the relevant protocols, may be released from quarantine before the lapse of the 21 days,” says the regulations, published by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.

Some observers noted that a negative test taken too early in the course of an infection may not be sufficient to exclude Ebola because the virus may not yet be detectable.

The regulations make it a crime if you fail to report a suspected case of Ebola, or that someone has died from the disease.

Such a report should be made confidentially to the nearest medical officer of health, health facility or a national administrative officer such as a chief.

Such wrongdoers and others who give false information or escape quarantine are liable to a fine of up to Sh50,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both, as per Section 164 of the Public Health Act.

Duale also restricted Ebola testing to the national reference laboratory or laboratories he may designate later. 

A laboratory that receives a specimen from a suspected case but is not authorised to conduct the test must refer it to the national reference laboratory or another designated facility.

The WHO urges countries facing an outbreak to address fear and stigma and encourage people to report symptoms and seek care early. Research on the epidemic also documents how mistrust of health systems and poorly implemented control measures contributed to people avoiding health facilities.

“Kenya remains open. In line with World Health Organisation advice, there are no restrictions on travel, trade, transport or public gatherings and no lockdown is in place. Airports, seaports and border points are operating normally, with enhanced health screening," Duale said.

"Kenya continues to welcome visitors, investors and partners, and will keep the international community informed through regular, transparent updates.” 

Kenya’s Patient Zero arrived in Nairobi on October 3. He was assessed and isolated at Nairobi Hospital, where laboratory tests confirmed the infection. He died on October 5 and was buried the following day under public health protocols.

Duale on October 11 said no new case had been recorded since the imported infection was confirmed. He said 122 contacts had been listed and verified, with 108 people in quarantine.

“Of 293 samples tested from 289 alerts, only the confirmed case has been positive. To date, 667,675 travellers have been screened at 26 points of entry, 2,345 of them in the past 24 hours,” he said.

The CS said five designated laboratories were testing samples, with results available within six to 12 hours. Up to 241 isolation beds were available in five hospitals in Nairobi, Eldoret and Mombasa.

He urged Kenyans to remain calm but vigilant and seek medical care promptly if they develop symptoms or are concerned about possible exposure.

“Ebola is not spread through the air; it spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a person who is sick or has died from the disease,” he said.

“Please follow public health guidance, rely only on official Ministry of Health updates and avoid sharing rumours, which cause unnecessary panic. Anyone with symptoms, or anyone concerned about possible exposure, should seek medical care promptly at the nearest health facility.”