Kenya’s confirmed Ebola cases have risen to eight after one more person tested positive on Sunday, October 18, as health authorities intensify efforts to contain the outbreak.

In an update issued by the Ministry of Health, 38 people were tested on Sunday, with one returning a positive result.

The latest case involves a 49-year-old man who is not a healthcare worker. He presented with fever, headache and muscle pain, according to the ministry.

The update was confirmed by Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth.

Kenya confirmed its first case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease on October 6, involving a man who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for seven years before travelling to Nairobi through Uganda.

The patient died on October 5, and his burial was conducted under public health protocols.

The number of infections has since increased as authorities identified additional cases among people linked to the initial patient, prompting intensified contact tracing, isolation and surveillance measures.

By October 17, the ministry had reported seven confirmed cases before Sunday's latest infection pushed the tally to eight.

Health officials have also stepped up screening at entry points, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, to identify suspected infections and limit further spread.

Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person or someone who has died from the disease. It does not spread through the air.

Common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting and diarrhoea. In severe cases, patients may develop internal or external bleeding.

The Ministry of Health has urged members of the public to remain vigilant, seek medical attention if they develop symptoms and follow official guidance.

The public can call the ministry's toll-free hotline, 719, for information and guidance on the outbreak.