Anxiety after foreigner with Ebola-like signs treated

Health workers stand in a new Ebola treatment center during a visit of WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Bunia, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on May 31, 2026. [AFP]

There was drama at a hospital on Kiambu Road after The Standard crew were barred from the facility while on assignment.

The journalists were pursuing an alleged case of a foreigner said to have checked in at the facility exhibiting Ebola-like symptoms  on Monday morning.

For some time yesterday, the security accused the journalists of illegally being in the facility despite the fact that they had been cleared by the administration and told to wait.

According to police reports, the Turkish checked into hospital showing symptoms resembling those of Ebola virus. The matter was reported to the police at Nairobi North Sub-County after the foreigner became uncooperative.

A senior officer from the division said medical samples collected from the patient ruled out the fears after testing negative.

"We are aware about the case, but we were informed that the results taken from the patient turned negative. The hospital will share more details," the officer said.

But AAR Hospital could not verify the details or explain the saga. 

"First, we were welcomed by the reception area at the Administration. We identified ourselves, including displaying our badges," one of the reporters said.

Adding, "we were then told to wait for a call since the person who was to see us was in a meeting, we waited for about an hour before the security came in and blamed us for being there illegally."

This is said to have forced the management to escalate the matter  to the authorities.

"Due to the diplomatic nature of the matter and the foreigner's unwillingness to be quarantined until results are out in two hours, OCS Muthaiga has been notified to advise," the report stated 

Adding, "Samples from the patient have been taken to the National Public Laboratory for further medical examination and analysis to confirm or rule out Ebola so that further medical decisions are taken."

The case comes amid the ongoing battle to stop the construction of Ebola quarantine centre in Laikipia, which has elicited mixed reactions among Kenyans.

On Tuesday, the High Court in Nairobi ordered the Kenya Kwanza government to make public the Sh1.7 billion deal with the US for the Ebola quarantine facility within seven days.