BREAKING: The Federal Government of Somalia has quarantined a citizen who traveled with a person who died from Ebola

Mogadishu (Caasimada Online) – The Ministry of Health and Social Care of Somalia has announced that it has quarantined a Somali citizen who traveled with a person who later died from the Ebola virus, which has erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

A press release issued by the ministry on October 12, 2026, stated that the citizen was safely taken to the Ebola quarantine and treatment center at Forlanini Hospital in Mogadishu, where his health condition is being assessed.

“The Ministry of Health and Social Care, in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Security and relevant agencies, informs the public that today, on the date of October 12, 2026, at 11:00 AM, a Somali citizen has been safely and securely quarantined, who has been confirmed to have traveled with a person confirmed to have died from the Ebola virus,” the press release stated.

The ministry indicated that it received information about the citizen from the Somalia office of the International Health Regulations (IHR) after its counterpart in Uganda submitted an official notification on the evening of October 10, 2026.

According to the press release, the Somali citizen and a Kenyan national traveled together from the Democratic Republic of Congo, passing through Uganda. The two men were reported to have stayed at the same hotel and then took a taxi to Entebbe Airport in Uganda.

Two individuals later traveled between Nairobi and Mogadishu. The Somali national arrived in Mogadishu via Addis Ababa, while the Kenyan national traveled to his country, where he later died from the Ebola virus in Nairobi on October 5, 2026, according to the ministry.

The press release added that the information provided by Uganda included the name of the Somali national, his passport number, flight details, and the seat number he occupied on the plane, which facilitated his identification and tracking.

The ministry also stated that an investigation and tracking operation lasting nearly 24 hours involved collaboration between the Immigration Agency, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Ministry of Health, and the National Institute of Health (NIH), which ultimately succeeded in locating and quarantining the national.

The ministry clarified that it has not yet been confirmed whether the national has the Ebola virus. “The ministry has designated the Forlanini center in Mogadishu for managing Ebola-related cases and has allocated a specific system for the quarantine center,” the press release stated.

On the other hand, the ministry urged individuals who had contact with the national to reach out to health agencies, noting that anyone with information about the situation can call directly.

“The contact with the national does not necessarily indicate that an individual has contracted the virus, but assessment and tracking are crucial for preventing potential outbreaks,” the ministry emphasized.

The Ministry of Health has finally called on the public to remain calm, cooperate with health teams, and avoid spreading unverified news and discrimination against citizens and their families. It also stated that it will share new information with the public once it is verified.