Suspected Ebola case in Nanyuki turns negative

By  Mercy Mwende

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

A suspected Ebola case in Nanyuki has tested negative, easing fears of a possible outbreak after a 35-year-old woman died while receiving treatment at the Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital (NTRH).

The woman, who worked at a liquor store in Nanyuki town, was admitted to the hospital’s emergency department at 5am on Monday with symptoms including general body weakness, fever and an intermittent dry cough, according to chief executive officer, Dr Sammy Kilonzo.

“She reported no history of travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or Uganda and reported no contact with anyone who had presented similar symptoms,” Dr Kilonzo said in an internal memo dated October 13.

However, in the 24 hours before admission, the patient developed shortness of breath and bleeding from natural body openings and skin puncture sites, raising concerns among health workers.

Speaking to the Nation, Dr Kilonzo said samples were collected from the patient and sent to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) on Monday evening for testing.

Her body was held at the hospital pending confirmation of the cause of death, while the ward where she had been admitted was cordoned off as health workers awaited the results.

A medic at the facility, who spoke to the Nation on condition of anonymity, said preliminary examinations indicated that the patient had died from severe anaemia.

Dr Kilonzo said the hospital released the body to the morgue after receiving the negative test results.

“The hospital also took necessary precautionary measures to ensure that healthcare workers and the facility were protected throughout the assessment and management of the patient in case it was an Ebola case,” he said.

Following the reports, Sheria Mashinani, a community-based organisation in Laikipia, urged residents of Nanyuki and the wider county to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information.

Laikipia East MP aspirant Mwangi Wangai said the reports had unsettled residents, with some questioning whether the incident had occurred as reported.

He called on the government to rebuild public trust by providing timely and accurate information during health emergencies, saying residents were concerned about their preparedness for potential outbreaks despite the presence of a quarantine facility in Nanyuki.

“Such news of Ebola will confuse people. The government needs to tell us what is happening. It needs to communicate clearly with the public to prevent confusion and ensure residents understand the measures being taken to protect them," he said.

Mr Wangai said residents had been surprised by the reports, recalling that they had previously opposed the construction of a US Ebola quarantine facility in Laikipia.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.