US Raises Kenya Travel Advisory to Level 3 as Ebola Cases Hit Eight

The United States raised its travel advisory for Kenya to Level 3 on Oct. 19, 2026, telling Americans to reconsider travel as the country confirmed its eighth Ebola case. The State Department moved Kenya from Level 2, exercise increased caution, to Level 3, reconsider travel. The U.S. Embassy in Kenya said the level changed due to health risks, and the advisory also cited crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest and road safety.

Eighth case confirmed on Sunday

Kenya confirmed its eighth Ebola case on Sunday. The patient is a 49 year old attendant who had attended the first patient. Health Director General Patrick Amoth said 38 people were tested on Sunday and one tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain.

The first case was a man who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo, travelled through Uganda and died in Nairobi on Oct. 5, 2026. His death was announced on Oct. 6, 2026. Later cases include relatives of the first patient and health workers who had contact with patients.

Seven other patients were in quarantine and stable, according to reports on the outbreak. Officials identified 130 contacts, and 128 had been traced and quarantined. The World Health Organization said there was no evidence of wider community transmission, and contacts were under daily monitoring.

What Level 3 means for travelers

Level 3 is the second highest level in the U.S. system. It does not ban travel, but it tells Americans to reconsider a trip and to weigh the risks before they go. Some areas of Kenya are at Level 4, do not travel, including the Eastleigh and Kibera neighborhoods of Nairobi, according to Dawan Africa.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Travel Health Notice for Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in Kenya. Travelers who do go are told to follow health guidance, watch for symptoms and seek care fast if they feel ill after contact with a sick person or after travel in an affected area.

Officials say public risk stays low

Kenya's Health Ministry said the overall public risk remains low and that no wider community transmission has been detected. That message sits next to the higher U.S. warning. The warning reflects risk for visitors who may not know local health routes, while Kenyan officials point to contact tracing and quarantine as the tools holding the outbreak to a known chain.

For now, the count stands at eight confirmed cases. Health teams continue to test contacts and monitor people in quarantine each day. Any new case from outside the known contacts would change the picture, and officials have not reported one. Travelers with trips planned in the coming weeks face a choice shaped by both messages: a formal U.S. call to reconsider, and a Kenyan statement that the wider public risk is still low.