Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Trump administration is moving to establish a quarantine and treatment facility in Kenya for United States citizens exposed to or infected with the Ebola virus, a significant shift in policy that would keep potentially contagious Americans out of the country amid a worsening outbreak in Central Africa. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, the facility, which is still pending approval from the Kenyan government, would be staffed by United States public health officers from the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, a uniformed branch under the Department of Health and Human Services. Some members of the corps have already received deployment notices.
The proposed centre is intended for American citizens who have been exposed to the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo or neighbouring Uganda, as well as those at high risk of testing positive and those who have already tested positive. It would serve as a regional hub for monitoring, isolation and treatment, effectively keeping infected or exposed Americans out of the United States, where they would otherwise have been flown for care. The move comes as health authorities race to contain a fast‑growing outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain, which the World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency of international concern. The outbreak, which began in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has since spread to Uganda, is now the third‑largest Ebola outbreak on record.
The decision marks a clear break from how past Ebola outbreaks were handled. In previous years, Americans who were exposed or fell ill were typically flown back to the United States or Europe for treatment in specialised high‑containment units. Under the new approach, those people would instead be held and treated much closer to the outbreak zone, in a stable regional hub with good infrastructure and international airport connections. Kenya was reportedly selected because it is not reporting active Ebola transmission, making it a practical choice for the United States to manage its own citizens without bringing them home during the early stages of the crisis.
The facility, which was still awaiting approval from the Kenyan government as of Tuesday, is expected to be staffed by American public health officers who have already begun training for deployment. A few dozen officers are reportedly being prepared to handle medical care for high‑risk patients. The White House and the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The outbreak has already claimed a significant number of lives. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 906 suspected cases, including 105 confirmed, with 223 suspected deaths and 10 confirmed fatalities. Uganda has reported seven confirmed cases and one death, with most infections linked to the initial cluster. The World Health Organization has warned that the epidemic is spreading faster than efforts to contain it, with several other African countries deemed at high risk.
No cases of Ebola have been confirmed in Kenya so far, and the country has not recorded any cases since the outbreak began. Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, confirmed on Wednesday, 27 May, that the government has established holding areas at key border points as part of heightened surveillance measures aimed at preventing a possible outbreak. Duale assured Kenyans that the government is ensuring screening, verification and traceability of travellers entering the country from high‑risk regions, particularly neighbouring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Under serious screening and verification, we are also putting up holding areas within the border if we get a case. So the country is fully, fully prepared,” Duale said. He urged the public to report suspected cases, especially among individuals who may have recently travelled to affected regions.
The United States has already introduced stringent travel measures to protect its citizens. The State Department directed all American citizens and permanent residents travelling from Congo, Uganda or South Sudan to enter the United States through Washington Dulles International Airport for enhanced health screening. Anyone who had visited the three countries within 21 days before arriving in the United States would undergo additional public health checks at the airport. Last week, the United States also banned non‑citizens travelling from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan or Uganda from entering the country.
Critics of the plan have argued that keeping infected Americans in a foreign country rather than flying them home for treatment at top‑tier medical centres could put patients at greater risk. Supporters, however, point to the logistical and public health advantages of managing cases closer to the outbreak zone, reducing the risk of further international spread.
Meanwhile, a small number of Americans have already been affected by the outbreak. An American doctor working in the Democratic Republic of Congo, identified as Dr Peter Stafford, tested positive for Ebola and was evacuated to Germany for treatment. He is not considered critically ill. Six other Americans exposed to the virus have also been transported to Germany and the Czech Republic for observation.
The CDC has also stepped up domestic preparations. An internal email obtained by Reuters showed that the agency is recruiting volunteers for urgent deployment to support Ebola screening at United States airports and other entry points. To date, no cases of Ebola have been confirmed in the United States, and the CDC has said the risk to the general public remains low.
The Trump administration’s proposed quarantine facility in Kenya represents a significant escalation in its strategy to keep the virus out of the United States. While the plan still requires final approval from Nairobi, it signals a clear intent to handle future American cases of Ebola‑like diseases in regional hubs rather than on home soil. For now, health officials on both continents are racing against time to contain an epidemic that shows no sign of slowing.
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