NAIROBI, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The first 20 Ebola contacts were released from quarantine and returned home after completing health surveillance without developing symptoms, an official with Kenya's Ministry of Health said on Monday.
Patrick Amoth, director-general for health in the ministry, confirmed in a statement that the 20 contacts had completed the mandatory 21-day monitoring period and were in good health.
Amoth said each of the 20 contacts had been thoroughly evaluated against strict discharge criteria.
"They do not pose any risk to their families, colleagues or neighbors, and we ask communities to welcome them back home warmly," he said.
Amoth added that the remaining 98 contacts were scheduled to be discharged in four phases beginning Nov. 3, subject to individual health assessments.
This is a clear sign that early identification, quarantine and close monitoring are working, he added.
Amoth noted that the total number of confirmed cases remained at nine, including two deaths, giving Kenya a case fatality rate of 22.2 percent. Meanwhile, the remaining seven patients were stable and continued to receive care from a multidisciplinary team of medical experts.
Kenya confirmed its first imported case of Ebola on Oct. 6 and immediately implemented measures to curb further transmission.
Genomic sequencing of three of the nine positive samples showed a direct genetic link to the initial case and to the Bundibugyo virus lineage originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to Amoth.
Strict surveillance and screening protocols remained in place at all entry points, health facilities and community levels, with every reported alert investigated promptly, he added.
Kenya has conducted extensive contact tracing among potentially exposed individuals since the first Ebola case was confirmed.
