US to set up Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya; patients to be treated in third countries

The White House announced on the 28th that the United States will establish a facility in Kenya to quarantine US citizens who have been exposed to the Ebola virus. If they develop symptoms, they will not be brought back to the US but will be sent to a third country for treatment. According to Reuters, this strategy is a significant departure from previous outbreak responses, as the Trump administration seeks to block all cases from entering the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared this outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) this month, noting that there are no approved vaccines or treatments and cases are rising rapidly. To date, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported over 900 suspected cases and more than 200 suspected deaths. Senior Trump administration officials told reporters in a conference call that the facility will be located at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, Kenya, and will be used to house high-risk Americans who have been exposed to the virus but have not yet shown symptoms. The US State Department said in a statement that the US intends to provide $13.5 million for Ebola prevention efforts in Kenya, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto today to discuss the situation. The statement said, 'The primary mission of the United States remains preventing the entry of Ebola to protect the health and safety of the American people.' US officials told the media that the facility will be equipped with advanced medical care resources to support Americans who develop symptoms during quarantine until they are evacuated. They will then be transferred to a third country, not the US. One official said, 'They will be sent to a Level 3 medical facility. The CDC is working with the State Department to identify potential locations.' According to NBC News, confirmed patients will be sent to European countries, though the list of countries is yet to be determined. The CDC imposed temporary travel restrictions last week on those who have visited the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan, including green card holders who are usually exempt from such restrictions, and is conducting screenings at three US airports. US officials denied that the decision was politically motivated, stating that transferring patients elsewhere is faster and intended to protect the American public.