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Public Health (Declaration of Formidable Epidemic Disease) Order
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Public Health (Declaration of Formidable Epidemic Disease) Order

Kenyan public-health order for the 2026 Ebola response.

Dated 12 October 2026, Kenya's Legal Notice No. 203 declares Ebola caused by Bundibugyo virus a formidable epidemic disease under the Public Health Act.

Last refreshed: 22 October 2026

Key Question

What powers did Kenya's exact 2026 Ebola declaration activate?

Timeline for Public Health (Declaration of Formidable Epidemic Disease) Order

#15 19 Oct

Kenya's Ebola chain reaches eight cases

Pandemics and Biosecurity
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Background

Kenya's Public Health (Declaration of Formidable Epidemic Disease) Order, 2026 is Legal Notice No. 203. It is dated 12 October 2026 and was made under section 35 of the Public Health Act.

The order declares Ebola caused by Bundibugyo virus to be a formidable epidemic disease. That legal classification allows the public-health powers attached to such a declaration to be used for the response. The instrument is specific to the 2026 Ebola emergency.

It is distinct from two other Kenyan measures. The Public Health (Ebola disease) Rules, 2026 were issued as Legal Notice No. 204 and set out accompanying controls. A separate declaration made in 2020 concerned COVID-19. Keeping the instruments separate matters because each has its own disease, date and legal function. The declaration identifies the disease; the companion rules govern the measures used against it.

Key Issues
Legal response

Kenya activates its Ebola order

Kenya issued the Public Health (Declaration of Formidable Epidemic Disease) Order as Legal Notice No. 203, dated 12 October 2026. Made under section 35 of the Public Health Act, it declares Ebola caused by Bundibugyo virus a formidable epidemic disease.

The order supplied the legal basis for Kenya's response as its case chain reached eight by 19 October. Three patients were health workers, while officials had traced 128 of 130 contacts. The instrument is separate from the detailed Ebola Disease Rules issued alongside it, and from Kenya's 2020 COVID-19 declaration.

Common Questions
What is Kenya's Public Health (Declaration of Formidable Epidemic Disease) Order, 2026?
It is Legal Notice No. 203 of 2026. The order declares Ebola caused by Bundibugyo virus a formidable epidemic disease under section 35 of Kenya's Public Health Act.Source: Kenya Ministry of Health
When was Kenya's 2026 formidable epidemic disease order made?
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale made the order on 12 October 2026. It appeared in Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 240.Source: Kenya Gazette
How does the 2026 order differ from Kenya's Ebola Disease Rules?
Legal Notice No. 203 declares Bundibugyo Ebola a formidable epidemic disease. Legal Notice No. 204 sets the separate operational rules for surveillance, screening, isolation, contact tracing and other controls.Source: Kenya Gazette
Source Material
Public Health (Declaration of Formidable Epidemic Disease) Order, 2020Public Health Act, section 35Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 240, Legal Notices 203 and 204

Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 22 October 2026. Editorial standards.