The Nairobi Hospital has stepped up infection-control measures, contact tracing and staff monitoring after a patient treated at the facility was confirmed to have Ebola Virus Disease, with the hospital saying the case is Kenya’s first confirmed imported Ebola case.
In an internal memorandum dated October 6, the hospital said it immediately escalated infection prevention and control measures after Ebola was suspected, including isolating the patient and restricting access to the designated clinical area.
The hospital said it is now working with the Ministry of Health and national public health authorities to identify people who may have been exposed to the patient and assess their level of risk.
“The Nairobi Hospital wishes to provide all staff and ASA doctors with an update regarding the patient recently managed at the Hospital who has now been confirmed to have Ebola Virus Disease,” the memo issued by CEO Felix Osano reads.
“The Ministry of Health has formally announced this as the first confirmed imported case of Ebola Virus Disease in Kenya.”
The hospital said its Infection Prevention and Control and Occupational Health teams are undertaking a systematic risk assessment of potentially exposed staff in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
Staff who had relevant contact with the patient will be individually contacted, risk-stratified and followed up according to Ministry of Health protocols.
The hospital, however, sought to reassure staff that merely working in the hospital, being in the same department or being in the general vicinity of the patient does not by itself constitute Ebola exposure.
“Ebola is transmitted primarily through direct contact with blood or other body fluids of an infected symptomatic person or contaminated materials,” Osano said.
It said the level of risk depends on the nature of the interaction with the patient, procedures undertaken and whether appropriate personal protective equipment was used.
The hospital has identified and documented healthcare workers and other people who had direct interaction with the patient, while reviewing the patient's movement through the facility from presentation through subsequent care.
Other measures include enhanced use of personal protective equipment, strict hand hygiene, environmental cleaning and decontamination, safe handling of laboratory specimens and controlled disposal of potentially contaminated clinical waste and linen.
The hospital has also ordered immediate reporting and assessment of any personal protective equipment breach, splash, sharps injury or unprotected exposure to blood or other body fluids.
Staff who believe they had unprotected contact with the patient's blood or body fluids, experienced a PPE breach or sustained a sharps injury have been urged to report immediately to Infection Prevention and Control or Occupational Health.
The hospital said staff identified as contacts will receive direct guidance on monitoring and any additional measures required.
It has also reinforced screening and early recognition at the Accident and Emergency Department and other entry points, with emphasis on travel history, epidemiological risk assessment, early recognition of suspected cases and immediate isolation.
The facility said it remains on heightened Ebola alert and will continue working with the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies.
“Our objective is clear: to identify every potentially significant exposure, interrupt any possible chain of transmission and protect our staff, patients, families and the wider community,” the memo says.
The hospital also cautioned staff against sharing photographs, laboratory reports, clinical records or identifiable patient information through WhatsApp, social media or other unofficial channels.
It urged staff to remain vigilant and follow established protocols as the response continues.
