The Nairobi Hospital told employees who believe they had unprotected exposure to blood or body fluids of a confirmed Ebola patient to report straight away to its Infection Prevention and Control or Occupational Health teams.

The directive follows the Ministry of Health’s formal announcement that the patient, treated at the hospital, represents Kenya’s first confirmed imported case of Ebola Virus Disease.

In an internal memo dated 6 October, CEO Felix Osano said the hospital escalated infection‑prevention measures as soon as Ebola was suspected, isolating the patient and restricting access to the clinical area involved.

The hospital will now work with the Ministry of Health and national public‑health authorities to identify anyone who may have been exposed and assign a risk grade to each contact.

Employees identified as having had relevant contact will be contacted individually and monitored under Ministry protocols, with the hospital’s Infection Prevention and Control and Occupational Health teams leading the assessment.

The memo clarifies that merely working in the same department or being in the general vicinity of the patient does not constitute exposure; risk depends on the nature of interaction, procedures performed and correct use of protective equipment.

Osano described the tracing exercise as the hospital’s central task, aiming to identify every potentially significant exposure, halt any transmission chain and protect staff, patients, families and the wider community.

Beyond tracing, the hospital has tightened routines, including increased use of personal protective equipment, stricter hand‑hygiene, enhanced cleaning, safe handling of laboratory specimens and controlled disposal of potentially contaminated waste and linen.

Any breach of PPE, splash, sharps injury or unprotected exposure to blood or other fluids must be reported immediately for assessment, and screening at the Accident and Emergency Department and other entry points has been reinforced.

Staff are also warned against sharing patient details, laboratory reports or photographs via WhatsApp, social media or other unofficial channels.

The hospital has not disclosed the patient’s identity, nationality, travel history, condition, location or the number of staff potentially exposed, and the exact dates of treatment and confirmation remain unspecified.

The Nairobi Hospital says it remains on heightened alert and will continue collaborating with the Ministry of Health and other agencies as the situation develops.