Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson has assured residents that the County Government has intensified Ebola preparedness and response measures across all 17 sub-counties following the confirmation of a case in the capital.

Speaking during a press briefing on the County’s response, Sakaja said Nairobi had strengthened its disease surveillance, contact tracing, isolation capacity and emergency response systems to safeguard residents against the threat of an Ebola outbreak.

The Governor revealed that 923 health workers and 1,598 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) had undergone specialised training on the early detection, identification and reporting of suspected Ebola cases, while more than 60 laboratory officers had been trained on safe sample collection and handling.

He said Rapid Response Teams had been activated across the 17 sub-counties, with the County Emergency Operations Centre coordinating surveillance, case reporting, contact tracing and emergency interventions.

“Our message to Nairobi residents is clear: remain alert, remain calm and cooperate with our health teams. There is no need for panic, but we must all take the necessary precautions and report suspected cases early,” Sakaja said.

The Governor emphasised that Nairobi had moved to strengthen its frontline health systems, ensuring that medical personnel and community health teams were adequately equipped to identify potential infections and facilitate timely interventions.

“We have activated and strengthened our response measures across Nairobi. Our health teams are on the ground, surveillance has been intensified in all 17 sub-counties, and we are working closely with the national government and our partners to protect residents,” he said.

As part of the heightened preparedness, Sakaja announced that Mama Margaret Uhuru Kenyatta Hospital had been designated as Nairobi’s Ebola isolation facility, with ongoing efforts to strengthen its capacity to receive, isolate and manage suspected and confirmed cases.

He said the County had also reinforced infection prevention and control measures across its health facilities, including training medical personnel on the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), safe patient handling and ambulance disinfection protocols.

To test the readiness of emergency response systems, simulation exercises have been conducted at Mbagathi Hospital and Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), alongside the Kenya Red Cross.

Sakaja further disclosed that contact tracing had been initiated for 28 contacts linked to the deceased confirmed patient, as well as 27 passengers who travelled on the same flight, as health authorities intensified efforts to identify and monitor individuals who may have been exposed.

According to the County’s surveillance report, 22 suspected Ebola cases have been reported since May 16, 2026, across 11 of Nairobi’s 17 sub-counties.

The confirmed case involved a 39-year-old Kenyan man who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for seven years before travelling to Kenya through Uganda on October 3, 2026.

The patient was admitted to a Nairobi hospital upon arrival, where samples were collected and subsequently tested positive for Ebola at the National Public Health Laboratory. He later succumbed to the disease.

Sakaja said the County was working closely with the Ministry of Health, national referral facilities and development partners to ensure a coordinated response, with particular emphasis on early detection, rapid reporting and effective contact tracing.

“We are working as one team with the national government, health facilities and our partners. Our priority is to protect the people of Nairobi, strengthen early detection and ensure that anyone who may have been exposed receives the necessary follow-up and care,” he said.

Beyond strengthening medical preparedness, the Governor said the County had intensified public awareness campaigns to equip residents with accurate information on Ebola prevention, symptoms and the importance of seeking medical attention early.

The campaigns are being rolled out through Community Health Promoters, radio broadcasts, digital platforms and community engagement forums, with particular attention to vulnerable communities and areas with high population movement.

Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding, particularly following contact with a suspected patient or travel to an Ebola-affected region.

The Governor also cautioned residents against direct contact with the blood or body fluids of suspected Ebola patients and warned against handling the bodies of people suspected to have died from the disease.

He reiterated that public cooperation, timely reporting and adherence to health guidelines would be critical in preventing further transmission.

“We will continue to provide timely updates based on verified information. I urge Nairobians to remain calm, cooperate with our health teams and rely on official channels for information. Together, we can contain the threat and protect our city,” Sakaja said.

Residents have been encouraged to report suspected cases or seek assistance through the Nairobi County Emergency Health Hotline, 1508, as the County maintains heightened surveillance and response operations across the capital.