NAIROBI, Kenya, 16 October 2026 — The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are strengthening support for Kenya's Ebola response amid growing public concern and new findings showing significant gaps in knowledge about the disease.

A rapid survey by research firm GeoPoll found that 81 per cent of respondents were very concerned about Ebola spreading in Kenya, but only 37 per cent were very confident they would know what to do if they or someone close to them developed symptoms.

The findings highlight a critical challenge for health authorities and humanitarian organisations: translating public awareness and concern into practical knowledge that can help prevent infections and save lives.

The survey comes as Kenya responds to two confirmed cases of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease, including one death, following the detection of an imported infection earlier this month.

Red Cross strengthens support to Ministry of Health

The Kenya Red Cross Society said the renewed commitment followed discussions between Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni, IFRC Global Director of Health and Care Dr Petra Khoury, and KRCS Secretary General Dr Ahmed Idris.

The meeting, attended by representatives of IFRC's Africa regional health team, Nairobi Cluster and Kenya Red Cross health department, focused on strengthening operational support to the Ministry of Health.

Priority areas include safe and dignified burials, community-based disease surveillance, risk communication and community engagement, enhanced screening at points of entry, ambulance and referral services, and infection prevention and control supplies.

The discussions drew on lessons from Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, where community involvement and rapid identification of suspected infections have been central to response efforts.

Muthoni commended the Kenya Red Cross for its preparedness activities and rapid mobilisation following confirmation of Kenya's first imported case.

She particularly acknowledged the organisation's role in conducting the safe and dignified burial of the first patient, who died on 5 October.

The intervention was intended to reduce the risk of transmission while respecting the dignity of the deceased and the concerns of affected family members.

Survey reveals a worrying gap between fear and preparedness

The GeoPoll survey, conducted on 6 and 7 October, collected responses from 1,349 adults across 46 of Kenya's 47 counties.

Although 73 per cent of respondents had already heard about the country's first confirmed Ebola case, the findings showed substantial gaps in understanding symptoms and appropriate responses.

Only 53 per cent identified severe weakness or fatigue as a symptom, while 52 per cent recognised fever and 45 per cent identified headache.

Awareness was considerably lower for other symptoms, with 30 per cent recognising vomiting, 26 per cent diarrhoea and 21 per cent abdominal pain.

The findings suggest that many people may struggle to recognise possible early signs of infection, potentially delaying medical assessment and reporting.

The survey also found that 34 per cent of respondents were not confident they would know what to do if symptoms appeared, while another 7 per cent were unsure.

This gap underscores the importance of the community engagement and public health education activities being prioritised by the Red Cross and its partners.

Rather than focusing solely on the dangers of Ebola, health communication efforts need to provide clear instructions on recognising symptoms, reporting possible exposure and accessing medical assistance.

Misinformation emerges as another major threat

The GeoPoll findings also reveal the scale of the misinformation challenge facing Kenya's Ebola response.

More than half of respondents, 52 per cent, reported encountering information about Ebola in Kenya that they believed could be false or misleading.

Nearly one in four respondents, 23 per cent, said they encountered such information frequently.

Among respondents who reported exposure to suspected misinformation, television was the most frequently identified individual channel at 29 per cent, followed by Facebook at 25 per cent, TikTok at 16 per cent and X at 10 per cent.

The findings suggest that misleading health information is circulating across both traditional and digital media, making accurate and consistent communication essential.

The survey further found that 15 per cent of respondents believed the reported Ebola situation was probably or definitely not real, while another 5 per cent were uncertain.

Such doubts can complicate public health interventions by discouraging people from reporting symptoms, cooperating with contact tracing or following prevention guidance.

Risk communication and community engagement, commonly referred to as RCCE, will therefore be central to the strengthened Red Cross response.

These activities can help health teams address rumours, respond to public concerns and build confidence in official health information.

Kenyans place greatest trust in health authorities

Despite the misinformation challenge, the survey identified an opportunity for public health communication.

The Ministry of Health emerged as the most trusted source of accurate Ebola information, selected by 60 per cent of respondents.

The World Health Organization followed at 46 per cent, doctors and healthcare workers at 41 per cent, and county health officials at 36 per cent.

Television was selected by 35 per cent, while radio and social media each received 24 per cent.

These findings suggest that communication delivered through trusted health institutions, supported by television, radio, social media and community networks, could help close existing information gaps.

The Kenya Red Cross and IFRC are well placed to complement official communication through trained volunteers, community outreach and local engagement.

Their role could be particularly important in reaching people who may not routinely access official government communication channels.

Contact tracing continues following second case

Kenya's Ministry of Health confirmed a second Ebola infection on 14 October involving a 39-year-old close relative of the first patient.

The individual had already been placed under quarantine after being identified as a contact of the initial case.

According to the ministry's update, 128 contacts had been identified in connection with the first infection, with 113 traced and 108 placed under quarantine in Kenya.

Health officials said the two confirmed cases were linked and that there was no evidence of wider community transmission at the time of the announcement.

The early detection of the second case while the patient was under monitoring demonstrated the importance of surveillance, contact tracing and timely isolation.

The government has maintained that travel, trade and public gatherings remain unrestricted while surveillance and response activities continue.

Building community confidence

The partnership between the Ministry of Health, Kenya Red Cross and IFRC is expected to reinforce the country's capacity to respond to the disease while strengthening community protection.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has experience in community-based surveillance, emergency transport, safe burials and infection prevention during previous outbreaks.

These capabilities are particularly relevant in Kenya, where rapid movement across borders and between counties requires coordinated disease surveillance and timely information sharing.

Beyond medical interventions, the GeoPoll findings point to the need for sustained public education that explains not only how Ebola spreads but also what individuals should do when they suspect exposure.

Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person who has symptoms, or through contact with contaminated materials and infected bodies.

Early symptoms can include fever, severe weakness, headache and muscle pain, followed in some cases by vomiting, diarrhoea and other complications.

People who develop symptoms after possible exposure should avoid close contact with others, promptly contact health authorities and disclose their exposure history.

The Ministry of Health has encouraged members of the public to use its toll-free 719 line for guidance and verified information.

The ministry also provides information through its JALI WhatsApp service on 0700 719 719.

As Kenya continues its Ebola response, the emerging challenge extends beyond detecting and managing infections.

The success of containment efforts will also depend on whether communities receive accurate information, recognise possible symptoms early and have the confidence to seek medical assistance.

For the Kenya Red Cross, IFRC and government health authorities, closing the gap between public concern and practical preparedness could prove just as important as strengthening surveillance and emergency response systems.