US govt to send Americans exposed to Ebola to makeshift hospital in Kenya: Report
Washington, May 28
The US government is planning to send Americans exposed to Ebola to a new quarantine facility in Kenya instead of flying them to the United States, US media have reported.
Trump administration officials have instructed the US military to set up a quarantine facility in central Kenya within a week, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday (local time), citing two people familiar with the matter. The field hospital would house Americans exposed to the virus, keeping them in biocontainment units transported from the United States.
The initial plan calls for a 50-bed unit within a week, with potential to expand to 250 beds. Members of the US Public Health Service have already begun training at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to staff the Kenya facility, according to the report.
The US government this month flew an American doctor who developed symptoms to a hospital in Germany, and sent six other Americans for monitoring in Germany and the Czech Republic, Xinhua news agency said, quoting the report.
Earlier this month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a 30-day suspension of entry into the United States for foreign nationals who had been in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan in the past 21 days.
Last week, the policy was expanded to include lawful permanent residents, or green card holders.
The number of suspected Ebola cases in the DRC has surpassed 1,000 as the outbreak continues to spread across eastern provinces, according to a situation report released Wednesday by the country's Ministry of Health.
The report, based on figures compiled as of Tuesday, put the cumulative number of suspected cases at 1,077. The country has recorded 121 confirmed Ebola cases and 238 suspected deaths since the outbreak was declared on May 15.
The outbreak has affected 13 health zones across the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, the report said, with Ituri remaining the epicentre.
The current outbreak marks the country's 17th Ebola epidemic. Laboratory tests identified the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, a relatively rare form of Ebola.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is what happens when global health infrastructure is weak. The US is protecting its borders, but at what cost? Kenya is a developing country, and putting a makeshift hospital there without consulting the local authorities properly could create tensions. India has learned from past outbreaks—coordination with local governments is key. I hope this doesn't backfire. 🙏
From an Indian perspective, this seems like a smart logistical move. The US has bases in Kenya, and it's closer to the outbreak zone than the US mainland. But I'm concerned about the strain on local healthcare systems. India has faced similar challenges with Nipah and COVID outbreaks—you need to balance containment with respect for the host country. I hope the US is providing adequate resources to Kenya as part of this deal.
This is classic American exceptionalism. They want to protect their own citizens but are willing to risk exposing others in Kenya. India has a history of being a responsible global citizen during pandemics—we sent vaccines and medical aid to many countries. The US should consider a more collaborative approach rather than just setting up a quarantine without proper local integration. It feels like they're treating Africa as a dumping ground. 😠
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.